Wedding cupcakes are known for their versatility and convenience. Previously popular only in tea parties or elementary school lunches, these cupcakes have now turned a new leaf and are now making their way into elegant and sophisticated occasions like weddings!
Most people are replacing the traditional three-tier wedding cake with cupcakes. However, is this new and innovative concept suitable for a wedding? Wedding cupcakes for a wedding reception not only add a new twist to the wedding cake, but they are also convenient, economical and trendy.
One need not have to spend time slicing the wedding cake to serve the guests. These days several cupcake parlors are sprouting across the city, which provide customized cupcakes suited to meet one's taste and are also prepared to go with the wedding theme.
Fruits or natural, silk or fondant flowers make great wedding cupcake decorations. Depending on your wedding theme the decorations can vary. Ribbons and lace can also be used to decorate the cupcake stand and complement the theme of the wedding. You could even use chocolate sprinkles or tiny candies to adorn the little cupcakes.
Wedding cupcakes prices can range from $200 for 60 cupcakes to $800 for 200 cupcakes. The rates will vary depending on the number of cupcakes and the customized decorations done to them in the form of icing and flavor. These cascading towers of cupcakes sold at bakeries can prove quite expensive. One can prepare these cupcakes at home and avoid the extra charges. Below is a recipe to make cupcakes.
Chocolate Cupcake Recipe
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
3-4 ounces melted unsweetened baking chocolate
Besides the ingredients required to bake the cupcakes, one also needs some other supplies like food coloring, icing (fondant), accessories, flavor, spatulas, cupcake pan, tips or tube and decorating bags.
Moreover, since it's for a wedding you will need a cupcake stand on which the little cupcakes will rest. Glass, plastic or even stands made from sturdy cardboard cupcake stands are available all the way from three tiers to seven tiers.
Preparation Procedure
Step 1: Take the cupcake pans and line them with paper liners. Also set the oven to preheat for 350 degrees.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl add all the above mentioned ingredients and mix them slowly and steadily for 30 seconds. Then mix the ingredients again, but this time at high-speed for 3 minutes. Your cupcake batter is ready!
Step 3: Pour the batter into the fill liners in the cupcake pans till about 2/3rd of it. Place the cupcake pans into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. To check if it's done, insert a toothpick into the center of a cupcake. If the toothpick comes out clean, it's done.
Allow the cupcakes to cool for 15 minutes in the pan itself. Then remove them and place them on wire racks to cool completely.
Cupcake Frosting Recipe
The frosting is what gives the cupcake its final glorious finishing touch.
Ingredients
1/2 cup Crisco shortening
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 lb sifted, powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons water
Preparation Procedure
In a mixing bowl, add the Crisco shortening, vanilla extract and salt together and mix thoroughly. You can add whichever flavoring you desire like mint, orange, buttercream, etc. Once mixed, add powdered sugar and water and mix them together at high-speed with an electric beater.
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This will give you the consistency of whipped cream. Keep beating for 5 minutes and then frost the cool cupcakes with the frosting prepared. Add whichever decorations you want to adorn the cupcakes with and your wedding cupcakes are ready. Arrange the cupcakes on the stand and enjoy the beautiful masterpiece.
Wedding cupcakes ideas are gradually being accepted by people and are being adopted in several wedding receptions instead of the traditional three-tiered wedding cake.
The cupcake tiers also make great centerpieces at weddings and some even stack the cupcakes on several smaller stands instead of having a single tiered cupcake tower. Cupcake trends are changing and evolving rapidly! See if you're in for a change of tradition at your wedding!