28 THE COURIER SUN • easter • MARCH 24, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com EASTER DINING Easter basket cupcakes add a special touch Go beyond store-bought marshmallow chicks and chocolate rabbits this year. Perfect for some-bunny special – or as a dessert to brighten any holiday table – A Tisket, A Tasket, A Cupcake Easter Basket cupcakes prove that it can be a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket. “These cupcakes look impressive,” says Nancy Siler, vice president of consumer affairs at Wilton, “yet they require just a few easy steps. Simply bake cupcakes and use your favorite cake mix to help speed up prep time. Cool completely, place into Picket Fence Cupcake Wraps or Basket Cupcake Wraps and pipe with green-tinted icing to create grass. If piping isn’t possible, simply spatula ice the cupcakes; either way, they will impress.” Wilton has a basketful of ideas for finishing s these little cakes. Perch miniature nest decorations filled with jelly beans on the icing grass for a playful take on a robin’s springtime roost. Or, top cupcakes with premade icing flowers to echo the cheery hues of spring’s first blossoms. These treats will be the perfect end to any Easter hop-pening. For more Easter or other holiday recipes and ideas, or to order decorating supplies, visit www.wilton.com. A Tisket, A Tasket, A Cupcake Easter Basket Yield: Each cupcake serves 1 White Standard Baking Cups 1 package (about 18 ounces) cake mix, any flavor Water, vegetable oil and eggs to prepare cake mix Picket Fence Cupcake Wraps or Basket Cupcake Wraps 1 can (16 ounces) White Decorator Icing Leaf Green Icing Color Royal Icing Nests with Jelly Beans, Pink and Purple Posies or Multi-Colored Flower Icing Decorations Preheat oven to 350°F. Place baking cups in standard muffin pan. Prepare cake mix following package instructions; place batter in prepared pan. Bake 18-20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean; cool completely. Insert cooled cupcakes into cupcake wraps. Tint icing green; pipe tip 233 “grass” over tops of cooled cupcakes. Arrange icing decorations on icing. Courtesy Family Features Tips for creating fabulous floral cupcakes Let springtime blossoms bloom on your dessert plate. Cupcakes make a great and easy foundation for trying new things. With a small surface to work with, you can top your treat with one fabulous larger-scale flower or multiple smaller-scale flowers to showcase your skills, practice decorating techniques or even experiment with color and arrangement. “Spring celebrations provide a great opportunity to try a new decorating technique,” says Nancy Siler, vice president of consumer affairs at Wilton. “Decorated cupcakes and other mini treats let you experiment with multiple new ideas while having fun in the kitchen. Plus, who can resist the ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ that your beautiful floral cupcakes will certainly elicit?” Try these tips from Wilton to create your own bouquet of sweet treats: • Botanical Beauties: Planning a bridal shower or other special occasion? Make cupcakes that mimic the flowers used for the event or those planned for the bride’s bouquet. • Fun with Flowers: Pick up fresh decorating inspiration in the new Wilton Method Course 1 - Building Buttercream Skills at your local craft store. You’ll learn the techniques and discover the tools that make it easy to create extraordinary decorating projects, including six beautiful flowers, for cupcakes, sweet treats or a layered cake. • Floral Fantasy: Adapt techniques to suit your floral style. Sometimes, just changing the size of the decorating tip changes the look of a flower dramatically. Experiment with tip size, color and design to create a garden full of icing flowers. After all, who says you can’t create the flowers you see in your dreams? • Bloom Where You’re Planted: Carry the floral theme from the bottom of your treats to the top. Highlight your gorgeous icing flowers by using Wilton Petal Baking Cups for your cupcakes rather than traditional baking cups. The petal-shaped top edge will beautifully accent your cupcake blooms. For more spring flower ideas, baking tips, inspiration and where to take a class, visit www.wilton.com. Star Drop Flowers Drop flowers are a great way to make flowers quickly. The star drop flower is the easiest to make because the tip does all the work for you. Use to fill in bouquets or borders, or to top individual sweet treats, like cupcakes, brownies and cookies. Icing color Decorating bags Drop flower decorating tip (use tip 2D for practice) Buttercream icing (medium consistency) Fit decorating bag with drop flower decorating tip 2D and fill 1/2 full or less with medium consistency icing. Hold decorating bag at 90 degree angle to treat with tip just touching surface. Squeeze, letting icing build up to make flower. Stop squeezing, then lift tip away. Hint: Pipe drop flowers in buttercream icing directly on cupcake. Piped dots or candy can be used for flower centers. Courtesy Family Features
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