introduction…

      Cupcakes have always been extremely popular, as they are so quick and easy to

      make. In the last few years, cupcakes have become incredibly fashionable, and

      we have seen so many little cupcake boutiques popping up and selling a variety

      of delicious flavours, usually decorated with decadent amounts of buttercream and

      finished with a scattering of brightly coloured sprinkles.

      Cupcake Love takes this a little further and includes some very pretty and highly decorative designs that scream romance. Unlike the cupcakes you find on the high street, each project requires some basic sugarcrafting skills to create the decorations that make them unique. Naturally, because of the theme, a lot of the designs involve flower making in the form of roses and blossoms. I have also used a number of other techniques for which I have given step-by-step instructions to make each design easily achievable, even for beginners.

      Cupcake making is fun and really rewarding. Not only can cupcakes be extremely

      delicious but they can also become a delightful little decorative work of art in

      themselves. I hope that all of the designs in the following pages will inspire you to

      have a go and experiment with making your own cupcakes to suit your personal taste

      and the occasion.

      Good luck!

       www.zoeclarkcakes.com

      basic tools and equipment

      Before you begin to make and decorate your cupcakes, it’s a good idea to be

      prepared. Included here is a list of basic tools and equipment that you will need

      to make and decorate any cupcake. More specific tools and equipment are listed

      for the individual designs in the ‘you will need’ section at the start of each project.

      basic tool kit

      1.Electric mixer with paddle attachment: to

      make cupcakes, buttercream and royal icing.

      2.Mixing bowls: for mixing ingredients.

      3.Kitchen scales: to accurately weigh

      your cupcake ingredients.

      4.Wire racks: to cool the cakes.

      5.Spoons or disposable piping (pastry)

      bags: to fill the cupcake cases.

      6.Spatula or large spoon: to gently

      fold in your various ingredients.

      7.Small saucepan: for heating ingredients

      on the hob (stove) – not pictured.

      8.Pastry brush: for brushing ingredients

      such as sugar syrup or apricot

      masking jam on to your cupcakes.

      9.Scissors: for making piping (pastry)

      bags and snipping off the ends.

      10.Cupcake tins (standard and

      mini): for baking cupcakes.

      decorating equipment

      1.Non-stick board: for rolling out icing on.

      2.Non-slip mat: to place underneath your board to

      prevent it from slipping.

      3.Small non-stick rolling pin: for rolling out icing.

      4.Spacers: to give a guide to the thickness of icing.

      5.Palette knives: for applying buttercream and

      ganache to your cupcakes.

      6.Small sharp knife: for cutting and shaping icing

      – not pictured.

      7.Fine paintbrushes: for gluing and painting.

      8.Dusting brushes: for dusting edible lustre dusts

      on to icing.

      9.Cellophane/acetate sheet: for ‘run-out’ icing

      decorations.

      10. Cocktail sticks (toothpicks): for colouring and

      curling icing.

      11.Piping (pastry) bags: for royal icing decorations.

      12. Piping tubes (tips): for use with piping (pastry)

      bags, to pipe royal icing.

      13. Ball tool: for frilling and thinning the edges of

      flower paste.

      14. Foam pad: for softening and frilling flower paste.

      15. Icing smoother: for smoothing sugarpaste-

      topped cupcakes to achieve an even surface.

      cupcake cases

      There are so many

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