So I am definitely not a baker!!! I wish I were the girl who could whip up a birthday cake or a mean batch of cookies from scratch. That just isn’t me. Is anyone else out there a “baker from the box?” I know my limitations! But that doesn’t mean they can’t be pretty. So here are some tips for making your cupcakes look much fancier than they really are { no one needs to know they are straight from a box, right!}
Tip #1: For the cupcakes pictured above, add two drops of peppermint extract to your icing. This gives it a nice mint flavor and doesn’t taste store bought! Awesome on dark chocolate cupcakes. You could also add almond or vanilla extract depending on your flavor choice!
Tip #2: Even when using store bought icing, stir it until smooth and put it in a zip lock bag. Squeeze it all to one corner, snip the end of the bag with scissors and use it to pipe the icing on top of your cupcake. The larger the snip, the wider the stream of icing. Only ice the very top so you can see some of the cupcake.
Tip #3: Use one piece of fruit on top. The green mint leaf is always a nice touch as well! The green looks great with a blueberry, too.
Tip #4: You don’t need one of those fancy plastic cupcake carriers! If you are taking them somewhere, keep them in the pan {like above} and then transfer to a nice serving dish once you arrive.
Tip #5: Add a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg to the top of your cupcake. Especially yummy on spice or pumpkin cupcakes for the holidays!
Do you have any fun tips for making desserts look fancier than they really are? Do share!
so pretty!!! I love to add the "chunky" colored sugars from Williams Sonoma to mine…and usually a mini fabric bunting tied between two toothpicks-
Blessings!
Jill
Jill, what a great idea! Would love to see a picture some time! I need lots of tricks to make up for the lack of baking skills!! 🙂
I just stumbled onto your blog, I LOVE it! You're home is beautiful and inspiring to look at. Please keep posting!
Again with the pictures! I especially love the first two. They look too pretty to eat, but since I'm a chocoholic, they wouldn't stand a chance:) and p.s. sometimes Giada even uses box mixes so you're in good company.
yummy! I love using canned fruit filling to 'dress' up bought desserts. Recently I've been pureeing the canned cherry filling (so there are no chunks of un-naturally red cherries :)) and filling frozen bought crepes with it – so easy but very impressive and delicious to boot!!!
new reader (thanks Megan!) and loving it!
Courtney! Thank you so much for visiting and leaving a comment! I think you cupcakes look fabulous!! I saw your feature over at Emily A. Clark too…congrats on the feature. And your kitchen is absolutely to die for! Angie xo