How I Frost My Cupcakes.
Wowza.
After the amount of questions I’ve received in the last week on how I frost my cupcakes, you’d think the repair of the economy depends on it or something. Newsflash: it doesn’t.
The way I frost my cupcakes is really no big secret. It’s because I’m, um… lazy. Like, really lazy. Cakes are not my thing, and I’d rather spend 45 minutes eating cupcakes than frosting them in pretty ways. Different strokes for different folks, you know? You are probably going to laugh at how I get this pile of frosting on my cupcakes, but… this is really it. If you want some fun and funky and incredibly gorgeous frosting ideas, you must must must check out Amanda and Bridget’s blogs because they take the cake (and cookies)… like, literally.
Anyhoo… this is what I do.
I use this #12 Wilton tip. Always. Hear me? ALWAYS!
I should add that this is my sixth #12 tip because someone (me) has crushed 5 others in the garbage disposal. I have other tips but trying to use them gives me the shakes.
I let my cupcakes COMPLETELY cool. This is a nightmare, especially for someone who has the patience of a sleepy, hungry 2-year old.
I assemble my piping bag. I use disposable ones because really… I can’t even clean up my room, do you actually think I could be bothered to clean a giant pastry bag? You are right. How Sweet It Is… destroying the environment one plastic bag at a time.
I also use disposable ones because again, this isn’t something I’m passionate about. If I did this more often, I’d probably buy some of those real bags. [P.S. ignore the blurriness/unfocusedness of some of these pics; apparently photographing with one hand and squeezing something with the other isn’t my thing either. (that’swhatshesaid)]
I start in the middle…
And literally just squeeze the frosting out in the center.
And I keep doing that until it makes a big poofy blob.
Sometimes, depending on the consistency of the frosting, I will make tiny circles with the piping tip in the middle of the frosting blob to get the frosting out onto the sides. This is just something you have to play with.
Then it looks like this!
Yeah… so that’s what I do. That’s it. No secret… I’m just lazy. And hungry.
So… I can’t wait to tell you about these cupcakes. I’m actively trying to keep my grubby little fingers off of them. Sinful.
98 Comments on “How I Frost My Cupcakes.”
I’ve excused the blurry photography, simply because my vision went blurry when I started reading this post. t.h.o.s.e. c.a.k.e.s.
wow.
Love! Thanks for the how-to :)
I’m lazy when it comes to frosting cupcakes too. I usually just sprinkle some powdered sugar on them because I’m over-the-top lazy and never feel like making the frosting…. Don’t judge! Great looking cupcakes!
Lazy or not…..your cupcakes always look amazing!
Awesome! Amazing! I feel like I just learned the easiest trick ever imaginable! ;) now, I’m gonna go make some cupcakes and impress some people! (I just bought my first #12 tip! Yee!)
I am SO thankful for this post! I’ve been avoiding cupcakes because I always ice them to look like a hot mess. I need to get my hands on these magical tools
I love this simple method – the frosting looks so darn fluffy! And I agree, waiting for the cupcakes to cool is just about the most horrible torture imaginable.
Thank you SO much for this post I love seeing how other people frost their cupcakes because mine just don’t look as nice as I wish they would. Where do you get your disposal pastry bags from?
I agree that those would be extremely helpful because I seriously hate cleaning. Seriously.
♥ Kate
I get mine usually at Sur La Table!
I’m a Wilton Instructor – and I love that #12 tip for my frostings too! Makes life so easy! The 1M makes a beauty of a swirled cupcake and it looks rippled if you decorate your cupcake like you did above with the 1M tip. It’s my favorite way to decorate ;) ~Megan
A Wilton instructor?! How cool is that! I didn’t even know you could be one. I gotta look for a 1M tip.
I made my rose cake with the 1M tip! Its one of my favs! :)
Rocket Science ~ luv it, putting #12 tip on my list for poofy blob perfection, thx:)
Simple enough I could do it! :)
Thank you!! Thank you!!
I guess I just need to be more “patient” and use more frosting when I do this, because this is how I frost mine…even with the same tip…but it never comes out looking as pretty!
I just wanted to say that I always appreciate a good “thats what she said” :)
Ha! This post is amazing. And, of course, I can’t wait to read about those cupcakes.
Thanks for sharing your tips, Jess. I was also wondering…how do you get your frosting to be so whipped and fluffy? Do you use a hand mixer?
Nope, a stand mixer!
Thanks for posting this, I was one of the requests. Lol! cant wait to try it out.
(that’swhatshesaid) HEE! Man, I’m going to miss him.
this is a great post. I do love my 1M tip which I most often use but my #12 is the backup for when I’m feeling lazy and just want a cupcake. Love the “that’s what she said” line!
Your posts just make me laugh! I like your method. I’m all about the #12 tip too. I got one of those kits and I hardly use any of the other tips either. :)
Thanks SO much for the super sweet kind words my dear! I love your style. You have yet to make a cupcake that I have not wanted to completely devour. :)
Ooo….I just happen to have a #12 tip in my stash! :)
Thanks so much for the shout-out, my dear! Happy Sunday!
Thank you so much for sharing this! I always use the #1M tip to make big swirly frosting mountains, but I’ve always wondered how you got such perfect, pretty blobs of frosting on top of your cupcakes. I can’t wait to see what kind of cupcakes these are!
You literally have the best site. I love your pictures and your recipes. Ughhhhhhh, I just want to make all of this food!
– Chandler
I own no such fancy frosting bags or equipment. I never make cupcakes b/c I feel my frosting job is so ugly it ruins any “good” recipe I could have come up with…now I have a little faith that with a Wilton tip and minimal baking supplies, I can have a tiny bit of success. THANKS for this post! :)
I also tell myself that I don’t need an extra dose of sugar, so why bother with frosting (since I suck at it). But then I can be found reading posts, which says “How I frost my cupcakes” :)
Love your writing style
now the next question to bug you with….how do you get your frosting like that? every frosting i make turns out runny, even with a ton of powder sugar but i hate it tasting like powder sugar so do you have a good recipe that doesn’t give you a cavity just by looking at it?
Hey Jessica! I just had to tell you that I made your puffy peanut butter cookies w/ chocolate chips today (except I used a mix of peanut butter chips and chocolate chips … but that was the only change). Oh. my. word. This was the first time I made one of your recipes, and I will DEFINITELY be making more. And I will be singing your praises on my blog. They are so unbelievably good. Thank you for a great recipe! :)
I tried. And came up with zilch. I’m so disappointed in myself.
I’m lazy, too. Half the time I just use a ziploc with the corner cut off. I’ve been doing that all the time now because my #12 was sacrificed to the big garbage disposal in the sky.
As a cake decorator, I too agree you should try the 1m tip. It’s great!
“That’s what he said”…!! I almost choked on my lemonade laughing…classic! :)
Did you know they make “that’s what he said” shirts to go along with the “that’s what she said” shirts??
Yeah! My life is complete now that I know how you frost your cupcakes. :-) Thank you.
Was just looking at these cupcakes and immediately thought of you…cupcakes + bacon
enjoy :)
http://mamabblog.com/2011/06/french-toast-and-bacon-cupakes.html
I have decided that we’d be friends if we ever met. Srsly. But today, you completely won me over with your “thatswhatshesaid.” I use this ALL THE TIME…even at work (and I’m a paralegal at a law firm). In other news, I still might be 12 years old.
OMG! My #12 ended up in the garbage disposal, so I bought two more. I frost differently, but I’m all for a lazy way to do it. Thanks for sharing.
hahahaha! I just love this post. Thank you for the big smile you’ve placed on my face. :) That’s my kind of icing!
and now I am CRAVING a cupcake. I have muffins in the kitchen that might need an impromptu icing…
So…I really want a cupcake now. Guess I don’t have any excuse not to make one now that I know how to frost them!
I have this frosting applicator thing that squeezes out the frosting, every last drop, and you can throw most of the parts in the dishwasher and just rinse out the other parts (way easier than bags). I LOVE IT. Works amazingly, except you can only frost about 12 or so cupcakes before reloading. Anyway, these look AMAZING. I love your globs of frosting on top!
Hey! Do you have a website link? If so would love it! I’m from Australia and I’ve been looking around online but I just don’t know which are the dodgy one’s and which aren’t you know?
Cheers!
x
Hey Hannah – this is what I use – pretty sure I bought it from Target.
http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?sku=415-825
or here: (long link):
http://www.target.com/Wilton-Professional-Grade-Dessert-Decorator-Silvertone/dp/B000ENAMD8/ref=br_1_3?ie=UTF8&id=Wilton%20Professional-Grade%20Dessert%20Decorator%20Silvertone&node=14023831&searchSize=30&searchView=list&searchPage=1&sr=1-3&qid=1312775912&rh=target_com_category-bin%3ABaking%20Accessory%20Sets|target_com_category-bin%3ACake%20Decorating%20Sets&searchBinNameList=target_com_category-bin%2Cmaterial_type%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin%2Cnumber_of_pieces&searchRank=reviewrank&frombrowse=1
Personally, I love it! Other than having to reload it often, I like that it’s reusable and easy to clean.
I’m lazy like you, I prefer light, whipped frosting, especially on cupcakes!!
I am on a super strict budget, however, and haven’t gotten my piping bag and tip set as a gift yet, LOL, so I use a {good quality, lest the seam split} plastic baggie with diagonal cut across one corner to start in the center and just puffy-swirl my way to the outside edge. When I did this at my cousin’s baby shower, no one believe they took no time at all, the swirly pattern gives them extra fance even though they’re simple.
Can NOT wait to try your roasted blueberry cupcakes and your hot fudge peanut butter cupcakes and try out the new techniques..yours and the wilton instructors!!! Seriously, can NOT wait!!!!!! :)
I use the disposable paper pastry bags that are triangular shaped, that way you can put the whole mess into your composting bin…. being lazy and doing something good! Love your blog, and your cupcakes!
Thanks for the tips! Now…I must see if I have a #12 tip!
hmmm~~if these are the PB ones…i have made them and they are to diiiiiie for!!! however~~if it is a new recipe–BRING it on!!!! you never let me down!!!!!!!!!
Great tutorial!!! : )
I can’t tell you how many tips have gotten stuck in my garbage disposal, so funny! Brilliant way to ice cupcakes. I am going to try your roasted blueberry cupcakes ASAP, can’t wait!
Does anyone have a good link to a website that sells good quality frosting piping bag/ tips they can link me to? I’ve been searching around- I live in Australia- and it’s difficult distinguishing the bad quality ones to the good quality! I just want to order one online, a link would be soooo appreciated!
Thank you!!
xx
i started laughing from the second paragraph and didn’t stop till i reached the end. from one lazy baker to another… HI-5!!! sometimes i just use an offset spatula and slap the frosting on top. yeah. laaaaaaaaaa-zeeeeeeeeeeeee. awesome pictures, though, darlz!!
Hmmm…a #12 huh? Now I want to make cupcakes with mile high frosting!
Everything you said in this post made me laugh. I’m in love with you.