Hi all, i am making my own wedding cake but im doing cupcakes. i have made some today using buttercream icing but i found it a little sickly and much too soft. has anyone any ideas on what sort of icing i can use (i want to pipe it on and have that cute cupcake look). If anyone has or come across any recipes please let me know.
Much love xx

I am not sure but I assume a dairy free substitute wouldn't be as sickly. A friend of mine is doing ours - also cupcakes and I want a similar effect. But like you I find buttercream too sickly and I don't like it very much. My friend runs a small wheat-, gluten- and dairy free cake business and she said the same effect can be achieved without traditional buttercream.

200g Trex, 500g Icing Sugar.. then add drops to water to create a nice softness. comes out beautifully white then just flavour it :) x

What is trex

If its too runny you need more icing sugar - you need a lot more than you think
I will have a look in my recipe books - i think i have some that involve less butter but not sure what they use instead
I think you can use ganache too if you want chocolate but never made it myself

my cousin is an events caterer and makes cupcakes to order, i'll ask her advice re: icing for you, see what she says. I'll have to message her on bookface but i'll get a reply by tomorrow i expect.

she just happened to be online. She said that she uses buttercream usually as it holds its shape best and can take cake toppers better, she said you may have used the wrong quantities if it came out too soft, or maybe you left it out in a warm room for a little while?? She said that you could use a cream cheese icing but you would need to check that all your guests are able to eat it as some people cant. If you need any more help let me know and shes happy to give more advice :)


she also said the butter you use can make a big difference to the taste and colour

Or Royal icing... that's good to pipe on top. My mum does cakes professionally and she uses this for wedding cupcakes x

I own a cupcakery & this is the recipe I use which LMB has wrote down..

110g unsalted butter
60ml semi-skimmed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
500g icing sugar

Make sure to use unsalted butter! Also cream cheese is a great one too (my fav) x

Anastasia do you own the one from the book? :-))

I really like the icing but admittedly not so keen on the basic sponge recipe in the book. Much too dry and overly sweet.

Yes I took the recipe from the Primrose Bakery one!

My most favourite cupcake recipe is a Nigella Lawson one from her Express Dinners book - I use this 95% of my baking. I adapt it everytime and it's just the best basic recipe. For me anyway :-)

The hummingbird bakery is good too! First cupcake book I ever bought :-)

I thought you had :-) Perfect choice LMB - I love her! I have my own recipes straight from my family in America so mine are all a secret but I do highly recommend Georgetown Cupcakes new book, my friend uses it & they have to be one of the best I have come across so far x

Aww lovely - I love getting them too!

You can imagine what I get for Christmas, Birthdays & anything inbetween ha! x

Everything cupcake orientated I get bought for me even down to tea-towels :-D

Ahh you really should have, I love it even getting up at 4am & sometimes not getting to bed till 3am (if I have a wedding to do) would not change it for anything! x

Fabulous :-D
x

No problem :-)

Sponge cake will last 3-4 days in an air-tight container.
Buttercream only really lasts 24-48 at a push.
Ice anytime - the sooner you ice the cake the longer it will all last... it seals the cake & can be kept for 4-5 days.

Tip - never put cake in the fridge, it speeds up the drying process! x

Thanks :)
wedding is a Friday, so if I bake on wedensday and keep it in a container, i can butter cream and ice on thursday? Once Iced should I still leave it out of the fridge?

No cakes in the fridge - if you have left over buttercream that can go in the fridge but the cakes will dry out there. Best kept at room temp in an airtight container.

Hehe :-)

x

Yes that does happen! :-)

You will have to cattle prod them when you are making your Wedding Cake!! Lol x

Excellent idea!

Haha mums eh!! x