Cupcake Decorating Set

Wilton has a cupcake decorating set that includes the tips you will use most often and includes an instruction booklet.  With a little practice your cupcakes will look like they came from a bakery....but much better because they are homemade! 

The cupcake decorating set includes a large star tip 1M (rosettes, stars, drop flowers), small & medium star tips (zigzags, pull-out stars), round tips (outlines, dots, messages), and Bismark tip 230, plus eight disposable decorating bags.  I use the 1M tip every single time I decorate cupcakes.  If I could only have one tip, the 1M would be it.

  

Mardi Gras Cupcakes

My flight is booked...my hotel is reserved...my taste buds are primed for some gumbo and boiled shrimp...just counting down the days til Fat Tuesday!  I grew up in a small southern Mississippi town about an hour away from New Orleans so the city is very special to me.  Last year's Mardi Gras was my first one since Hurricane Katrina and I think it was the best one so far. Can't wait for Mardi Gras 2010! 

I have planned to visit several cupcake bakeries in New Orleans and there may be some surprises along the way.  Stay tuned as the Mardi Gras season really gets started and Mardi Gras cupcakes begin to appear!

Mardi Gras cupcake decorations

and photo from Sugarcraft.com

Basic Decorating Supplies

Holiday baking will begin soon and every cupcake baker needs a few basic decorating supplies. You don't need much to get started.  In fact, I use one or two tips and a pastry bag to decorate most of my cupcakes.  You can go simple or go fancy.  I prefer the simple route unless I am making wedding cupcakes or going all out for a special occasion. 

Wilton has a great tutorial for each step in cupcake

decorating (and lots of other good stuff):

Decorating Basics

Types of frosting & frosting recipes

How to fill your cupcakes

Techniques to cover your cupcakes

Decorating your cupcakes