6 Keys to Making Beautiful Cupcakes at Home

Over the past few years, I've learned a lot about decorating cakes. I've taken a class. I've scoured Pinterest for inspiration. I've made cakes for my girls' birthdays. I even had a little side business for a while and have recently started taking orders again. Today, I baked six dozen cupcakes in celebration of my niece's baptism and my daughter's upcoming birthday.

I thought it would be fun to share some top secret (not really) tips to making beautiful cupcakes. Why bake your own cupcakes? Well, it'll save you lots of money in the long run, it's easy to customize for the occasion, and it'll taste delicious. Anyone can do it. Here's how to get started.

1. Have a plan.  You don't need to have all the details worked out yet, but a basic plan will keep you from going crazy. Why are you baking? Are you baking for someone in particular? How many people are you serving? I like to ask whoever I am baking for if they have any specific ideas or if they'd like me to figure it out. Most of the occasions I've baked for have had a theme. Muppets. Pokemon. Ladybugs. A truck themed baby shower. Search Pinterest for great ideas to inspire you. Start searching with keywords, for example: "truck baby shower" "dump truck cake" "baby shower truck cupcakes" and that will get you started. I like to draw diagrams of what I am going to do and label what colors, flavors and decorating tips I plan to use.

Here's what I made after all that inspiration!

2. Get the right tools. This is probably the tip that makes the biggest difference between enjoying a successful cake decorating session and melting to the ground in a heap of sugar and tears. The right tools make all the difference. When I made my first cake seven years ago, I used parchment triangles and flew by the seat of my pants. It took all day long and didn't look that great. Now I know that the tools you use can make or break you. Here's what you need:

• Decorating bags. These are the bags that I use. I have tried the parchment triangles and they are difficult to fold and tend to leak. I have tried reusable bags but you have to be sure to get all the grease washed out. I like disposable bags, especially if you are going to be using lots of different colors of frosting. 
• Decorating tips and couplers. The secret is in the tips! Try Wilton's 1M tip to make simple but pretty swirled cupcakes like the white cupcakes in the title picture. They are super easy and look nice. I also use tips 1, 3 and 5 frequently, which are great for drawing dots, lines, and letters. Couplers are plastic rings that secure the tip to the bag. They allow you to switch between tips, which is handy. 
• A couple of awesome spatulas. Make sure you have a spatula that actually does the job of scraping the bowl effectively. I have a wonderful silicone spatula that came from the Dollar Tree. I also use this straight spatula for filling the frosting bags and smoothing things out. 
• A cupcake carrier. These are great for storing and transporting cupcakes. I bought one that holds up to three dozen. I like to keep my cake in the fridge (keeps it moist, fresh, and hardened frosting is less likely to suffer from an accident) and these fit nicely. 
• Embellishments. From edible glitter (my new fave!) to all kinds of sprinkles, embellishments make your cakes unique and fun. I've even found sugar snowflakes to make Frozen cupcakes even more fun. I like to shop Michaels and Jo-Ann, as well as The Baker's Rack, an awesome local baking supply store.

Edible glitter applied by paintbrush? Who knew!

Pretty and simple!

3. Prepare your body. Know that this is going to be a time consuming process, especially if it is your first time. Get a good night's sleep and try not to work at the last minute. Before you start the actual baking and decorating, feed yourself something hearty and savory. Today, I had leftover Mexican and a slice of pizza before I got started. It hit the spot. You're going to be taste-testing your frosting, so you'll want to have something in your tummy that is not comprised of sugar. You should also wear comfortable shoes. You'll be on your feet for a while. I like to wear slippers.  If you're a coffee drinker, I recommend you caffeinate before you get started.

4. Prepare your kitchen. Are you using a boxed mix or baking from scratch? Do you have a frosting recipe picked out? (I always use Wilton's.) Check your pantry and your refrigerator to make sure you have all the supplies you need before you get started.  Don't forget eggs and oil for the cake. Don't forget to set your butter out in advance so it softens. (I have learned the trick of placing the butter on top of a hot oven if needed to soften it since I dislike microwaving it). Make sure you have the flavorings and milk for your frosting. And, of course, cupcake wrappers. And shortening. Okay, just be sure you carefully read your recipes! I have forgotten each of the above listed things at least once before. It's frustrating to make multiple store trips. I also recommend not having a sink full of dirty dishes when you begin, because you'll just be adding to it.  Put on some good music to keep you company while you bake and decorate. I prefer 90s music.

Prepare your family too. As much as I love this little one's help, she needed to stay busy and out of my hair for a bit.

4. Don't be afraid to get helps from the pros. Whether you're using a boxed mix or following the Wilton recipe, it's okay if not everything you're making is a from-scratch recipe. If your end goal is beautiful, tasty cake, then feel free to use a boxed mix or a popular recipe as a starting place. For me, the fun is in the decorating. I feel that using tried and true recipes gives me the chance to show off my decorating skills. I often use boxed mixes since baking is not my strong suit. I took a Wilton course and still use the decorating guide that came with it to help me. There are plenty of Internet resources to get you started.  Here are some basic, helpful tips from Wilton.

My tried and true Wilton recipe. You know it's a good recipe when it's filthy.

5. Don't be afraid to experiment. For every cool looking thing I've made, there have been five or six monstrosities. See below for an awful flower cake I made for my mom's birthday. It was the epitome of something that only a mother could love. But seriously, don't be afraid to try new things. Use waxed paper to practice piping your frosting. When in doubt, don't forget that you can always scrape the frosting off and start over! With practice, you'll be making pretty cupcakes in no time.

Sometimes it helps to practice on waxed paper.

A cake only a mother could love. Bonus tip: less is more!

So there you have it. Six keys to making beautiful cupcakes at home. Happy decorating!

 I'd love to see your creations. Feel free to link them in the comments!

I made these little lions for a sweet little boy's birthday party!

This post is part of the 30 Day Challenge