Bake Me I'm Yours...Cupcake Celebration (6 page)

curved containers in which to dry the flowers

sugar glue

1
Brush the cakes with the syrup or alcohol, or add a thin layer of buttercream or ganache to help the sugarpaste stick to the cakes.

2
Knead the sugarpaste until warm, then roll out between the spacers.

3
Cut circles to fit the top of the cupcakes, but leave on your work surface.

4
Adjust the consistency of the royal icing, if necessary (see decorating techniques).

5
Place the stencil onto one of the sugarpaste circles and carefully spread the royal icing over the stencil.

6
Once the icing is of an even thickness, remove the stencil taking care not to smudge the pattern.

7
Using a palette knife, lift the paste circle carefully onto each cupcake, easing in the fullness. of the paste by gently pressing around the edge of the circle.

8
Add the flowers to the cupcakes, using a little sugar glue or royal icing to help them stay in place.

Simple, elegant and beautiful, these cupcakes are the epitome of style. The delicate butterfly perched on top of the luscious buttercream is guaranteed to impress your guests and have them marvelling at your baking prowess.

you will need

cupcakes baked in purple paper cases

buttercream of your choice

piping bag and large star tip

purple flowers

card for butterfly former

monarch butterfly cutter (LC )

pastillage

1
Make a former by folding a small piece of card into a ‘V’ shape, then fold a small section of kitchen paper and place on top of the card.

2
Thinly roll out the pastillage and cut out using the butterfly cutter. Transfer the shape to the former, using a palette knife, and position in the ‘V’ to dry, so that the wings rest one on either side.

3
Once the butterfly is completely dry (ideally overnight), dilute the orange paste colour in clear spirit and gently paint over the wings of the butterfly in sweeping strokes. Allow to dry.

4
Add some brown paste colour into a small amount of orange modelling paste and roll into a thin sausage. Attach to the butterfly to create a body.

5
Dilute some of the brown paste colour in a small amount of clear spirit and, using a fine paintbrush, paint the brown wing markings onto the butterfly. Allow to dry.

6
Mix the superwhite dust with confectioner’s glaze (which stops the brown colour seeping into and spoiling the white). With a fine paintbrush, paint dots of white around the wing tips and on the body, as illustrated.

7
Place the large star tube into a large piping bag and half fill with buttercream. Pressure pipe the buttercream onto your cupcakes in the style of your choice, and top with a flower or butterfly.

Bright, colourful and cheerful, these cupcakes are the essence of spring.

you will need

cupcakes baked in purple paper cases

buttercream of your choice

violas in a variety of colours and sizes

pastillage: cream

white fat