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| Score a quarter sheet cake into 24 squares, six across the top and four along the side. |
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| After dipping baked cookies in fondant icing, top them with appropriate sugar decorations. |
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| Coat cupcakes with fondant icing, and add a bottom shell border with star tip No. 17. The finished cupcake takes on the appearance of a bell. |
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| Duplicate the curly pattern on the printed design by using round tip No. 1 or 2 to pipe sotas over the top of the cake. |
by Jan Cartwright, Decorator Tips editor
Showers celebrate some of life’s most memorable occasions, such as weddings or births. They traditionally have been female-only parties, but couples parties are becoming more popular. No matter which version your customer is hosting, desserts are needed. Your decorating department can suggest various products, such as cakes, cupcakes or cookies. These design ideas are terrific for shower occasions.
Baby shower ideas
A great baby shower cake is a quarter sheet cake scored or cut into 2-in. by 2-in. portions. Place individual sugar ornaments on each portion. Pipe top and bottom reverse shell borders with tip No. 20. This scored or cut cake controls portion sizes, making it very easy to serve, which is an attractive option for many customers.
Decorated cookies are simple individual desserts and are colorful, delicious additions to any baby shower. After baking and cooling the cookies, dip them into a quickdrying fondant icing. While the icing is still tacky, place individual sugar ornaments on top of each cookie. Pipe borders that coordinate with the ornaments using writing tip No. 4. For example, the booties design is outlined with a matching stitch and bow border. The tiny feet cookies feature a wavy pattern border. The teddy bears cookie is bordered with squiggling pink and blue lines. Pipe icing hearts around the rattle cookie.
Cupcake booties on a sheet cake is a unique design for any baby shower. Begin by base icing and combing the sides of the cake with white icing. Airbrush blue and pink stripes around the sides and top of the cake. Place two cupcakes upside down on top of the cake for 3-D booties. With white icing and star tip No. 22, pipe the toes of the booties in front of each cupcake. Pipe an additional layer of icing on top of the first, and add icing on top of each cupcake. Then, cover all of the cupcakes with icing. Use open writing tip No. 4 to add pink and blue decorative finishes to the booties. With the same tip, pipe an appropriate inscription. Pipe top and bottom shell borders using star tip No. 22. Add some colorful tiny sugar decorations to the border for a final touch.
Cupcake cakes or pull-aparts have become extremely popular for parties. They are easy to serve as there is no need for knives, forks or plates, and they make a festive centerpiece for the table. The umbrella cake will enhance any shower, for either brides or babies. Place 18 cupcakes in the shape of an umbrella on a half sheet cake board. Adhere the cupcakes to the board with a dime size amount of icing. Use large star tip No. 8 to ice them in the requested colors. The featured design has a shell pattern for the body of the umbrella and a large rosette for the handle. The bottom row of cupcakes, above the handle, should be piped in half the umbrella color and half the handle color. Pipe an appropriate inscription, such as “Showers of Joy” for baby showers or “Showers of Happiness” for a bride.
Bridal shower designs
Individual cakes, such as petit fours are fun to serve at bridal showers, but they are a lot of work for the decorator. Suggest that the hostess serve decorated cupcakes, but they should not be average decorated cupcakes. For cupcakes decorated as bridal bells, place the cupcake upside down, and pour a quick setting fondant icing over the entire cupcake. When the icing has set, gently place it on a small cake board. Pipe a small shell border using star tip No. 17 around the base of the cupcakes. Add bell shaped sugar decorations on the top using a small amount of icing to adhere it.
For a bridal shower, a printed design featuring intertwined rings is ideal. After base icing a quarter sheet cake, place a printed design on top of the cake. To match the image design, cover the top of the cake with sotas, or randomly piped squiggles. To make the sotas, use a small No. 1 or No. 2 round tip, and hold it slightly above the surface. Squeeze the bag and allow icing to drop randomly in a series of overlapping loops for a lacy texture. I piped the sotas and borders in blue to match the printed design. For the bottom border, pipe a straight line using the smooth edge of the basket weave tip No. 48. Then, pipe top and bottom shell borders with star tip No. 19.
Have photographs or displays of the type of cakes that your department offers to help customers choose what they would like to order for baby or bridal showers. A list of inscriptions also is helpful.
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| 1.With star tip No. 22, pipe the toes of the booties in front of each cupcake. Add another layer of icing to the toe, and cover the tops of the cupcakes with icing. | 2. Use star tip No. 22 to add top and bottom shell borders. Add sugar quinns to finish the borders. |
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| 1. Create an umbrella shape with 18 cupcakes. Place them in three rows; four cupcakes in the top row, five in the second and six in the bottom row. Then, place three below the bottom row for a handle. | 2. With star tip No. 8, ice the cupcakes in a shell pattern for the body and rosettes for the handle. |