Crafting Wedding Cake Cupcakes: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding cupcakes are a fun and modern alternative to a traditional wedding cake. They're a great way to offer your guests a variety of flavours and colours, and they also make for a stunning display. Wedding cupcakes are usually lighter and fluffier than regular cupcakes, and are often flavoured with vanilla and almond, and topped with a fluffy vanilla buttercream. If you're thinking of making your own wedding cupcakes, there are a few things to keep in mind, such as using room temperature ingredients and not over-mixing the batter.

Flavour combinations: vanilla and almond, chocolate and peanut butter, or red velvet and cheesecake

Vanilla and Almond

Vanilla and almond cupcakes are a simple yet elegant combination, perfect for weddings, bridal showers, or parties. The cupcakes are light and tender, with a creamy vanilla almond frosting. To make the cupcakes, you will need all-purpose flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, unsalted butter, eggs, vanilla and almond extracts, almond milk, and powdered sugar. The key to the flavour is using both vanilla and almond extracts in the cupcake batter and frosting.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter

Chocolate and peanut butter cupcakes are a match made in heaven, reminiscent of a Reese's peanut butter cup. The chocolate cupcakes are moist and soft, paired with a creamy peanut butter frosting. To make the cupcakes, you will need all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, granulated and brown sugars, oil, buttermilk, egg, vanilla extract, water, and instant espresso powder. The secret to enhancing the chocolate flavour is adding a small amount of instant espresso powder to the batter. For the peanut butter frosting, use creamy peanut butter, unsalted butter, powdered sugar, and heavy whipping cream. You can also top the cupcakes with chocolate ganache and miniature peanut butter cups for an extra indulgent treat.

Red Velvet and Cheesecake

Red velvet cupcakes are a vibrant and festive choice, combining a lightly chocolatey cake with a classic cream cheese frosting. The distinctive red colour is achieved with red food colouring, and the buttermilk in the batter gives the cupcakes their signature flavour and texture. To make the cupcakes, you will need all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, unsalted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, buttermilk, and red food colouring. For the cream cheese frosting, use full-fat cream cheese, unsalted butter, vanilla extract, salt, and powdered sugar. Decorate the cupcakes with a swirl of frosting and cake crumbles for a stunning presentation.

Presentation: a cupcake display, a tree trunk stand, or a traditional cake with cupcakes

There are many ways to present your wedding cupcakes. Here are some ideas:

Cupcake Display

A cupcake display is a great way to showcase your wedding cupcakes and make them the centre of attention. You can use clear acrylic cupcake tiers to create a tower of cupcakes, with the option to top it with a small cake for a traditional cake-cutting ceremony. Alternatively, a wooden cupcake stand, perhaps in a rustic style, can add a unique touch to your wedding decor. Cupcake stands come in various tiers, from three to six, and can be customised with your initials or a monogram.

Tree Trunk Stand

A tree trunk stand is a unique and natural way to display your wedding cupcakes. Etsy offers a range of tree trunk stands made from wood slices or slabs, which can add a rustic charm to your wedding. These stands can be customised or decorated to fit your wedding theme and colours.

Traditional Cake with Cupcakes

If you want to stick to tradition, you can have a small wedding cake accompanied by cupcakes. This option gives you the best of both worlds, allowing you to have a cake-cutting ceremony and providing your guests with the fun and variety of cupcakes. The cake can be a "naked cake" or decorated with fondant, while the cupcakes can be assorted, allowing you to mix and match flavours and frostings.

Icing: buttercream, cream cheese, or white chocolate

Wedding cake cupcakes are a fun and unique alternative to a traditional wedding cake. When it comes to icing, there are several options to choose from, each with its own unique flavour and texture: buttercream, cream cheese, or white chocolate.

Buttercream is a sweet and fluffy frosting made by creaming butter and sugar. It is a popular choice for cupcakes as it can be used as a frosting, decoration, or filling. Vanilla is the most common flavour, but buttercream can also be found in chocolate or fruit flavours. It is also a good base for food colouring, which can be added for aesthetic purposes.

Cream cheese frosting is another popular choice, especially for those who find buttercream too sweet. It is made with cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar. This frosting is sturdy and pipeable, making it a good option for decorating cupcakes. It is important to use full-fat brick cream cheese and unsalted butter for the best results.

White chocolate is another option for icing wedding cake cupcakes. It can be melted and combined with other ingredients such as butter, milk, and icing sugar to create a sweet and creamy frosting.

Each of these icing options can be customised to fit the flavour and aesthetic of the wedding cupcakes. They can be piped into decorative patterns or used as a simple frosting.

Decoration: flowers, sprinkles, or gold leaf

Wedding cake cupcakes are a fun, modern alternative to a traditional wedding cake. They can be decorated in a variety of ways, including flowers, sprinkles, or gold leaf.

Flowers

For a romantic, rustic look, decorate your wedding cupcakes with flowers. You can use fresh flowers, such as roses or peonies, or make sugar paste flowers for a more long-lasting option. Simply place a single bloom on top of each cupcake, or create a small bouquet for a more dramatic effect.

Sprinkles

Sprinkles are a fun and easy way to decorate wedding cupcakes. For a simple yet effective look, dip the frosted cupcake into a bowl of sprinkles, ensuring the entire top is covered. You can use traditional sprinkles, or get creative with candy sprinkles, sugar pearls, or hundreds and thousands.

Gold Leaf

Gold leaf is a luxurious and elegant way to decorate wedding cupcakes. It is important to use only 23- or 24-karat gold leaf, as these are the purest and safest types to consume. Gold leaf is tasteless, so it won't affect the flavour of your cupcakes, but it will certainly add a touch of glamour. Use tweezers or a clean paintbrush to carefully apply the gold leaf to the cupcakes, creating a solid gold effect or a delicate drip design.

Portioning: how many cupcakes to make

Portioning is an important consideration when making wedding cake cupcakes. The general rule of thumb is to have at least one cupcake per guest, but it's often recommended to have a few extra to account for guests who may want seconds or those with a bigger sweet tooth. On average, most bakers suggest providing enough cupcakes for each guest to have between 1 and 1.5 cupcakes.

For example, if you're expecting 100 guests, it's recommended to have 100 standard-sized cupcakes and an extra dozen, totalling 112 cupcakes. For mini cupcakes, you would need 150, allowing for 1.5 mini cupcakes per person.

If you're offering multiple flavours, it's a good idea to have a minimum of 2 dozen cupcakes per flavour, with a maximum of 3 flavours for an order of 6-7 dozen cupcakes. This ensures that there is enough variety for guests to choose from, and that everyone will be able to find a flavour they enjoy.

It's also important to consider any dietary restrictions or preferences your guests may have. For example, you may need to include gluten-free or vegan options to accommodate those with allergies or dietary restrictions.

In addition to cupcakes, you may also want to offer other dessert options such as a small cutting cake, a dessert table, or a candy bar. These additional treats will complement the cupcakes and provide a well-rounded selection for your guests.

Finally, don't forget to account for your vendors and staff! They will likely appreciate a sweet treat, too, and it's always better to have a few extra cupcakes than to run out.

Frequently asked questions