Creative Cupcakes For Wedding Showers: A Step-By-Step Guide

Bridal shower cupcakes are a delightful treat to serve at a wedding shower. They are easy to serve and can be made more special by decorating them to match the wedding's colour scheme or theme. For instance, strawberry and cream cupcakes are perfect for a summery celebration with pink colour schemes. If you're looking for something more creative, you could even arrange the cupcakes into the shape of a wedding dress! There are endless ways to customise cupcakes for a bridal shower, from classic almond cake cupcakes to unique raspberry iced tea cupcakes.

Shaping cupcakes into a wedding dress

Planning and Preparation:

Before you start, decide on the number of cupcakes you will need based on the size of your cake board. A larger board will require more cupcakes to form the desired shape. Gather your supplies, including a cake board, wrapping paper or decorative material, buttercream frosting or icing, a pastry bag with a 1M tip, and any desired embellishments like fondant roses or burlap flowers.

Creating the Base:

Start by wrapping your cake board with wrapping paper or a decorative covering of your choice. You can use clear contact paper over the wrapping paper to protect it and create a smooth surface. Play around with the arrangement of the cupcakes to achieve the desired shape of a wedding dress. You can form a basic outline of the dress shape with the cupcakes and then fill in the gaps with more cupcakes.

Assembling the Cupcakes:

Once you're happy with the arrangement, apply a small amount of buttercream or icing to the bottom of each cupcake to act as an adhesive, securing them to the board and preventing them from moving during transport. Squeeze the cupcakes close together without smashing them, leaving some space between the rows to be filled in with icing later.

Decorating the Cupcake Dress:

Using a pastry bag with a 1M tip, pipe a rose swirl of frosting on each cupcake, starting in the middle and working your way outwards. Go back and add more icing to fill in the gaps between the cupcakes, ensuring a smooth and seamless look. You can add extra icing to cover any exposed cupcake liners.

Embellishments and Final Touches:

Now, it's time to add your chosen embellishments. You can use fondant roses, dusted with shimmering luster dust, or small burlap flowers to decorate the cupcake dress. These embellishments can be placed directly on the cupcakes or used as part of the overall design. Stand back and look for any gaps, ensuring the final result is neat and well-presented.

Your cupcake wedding dress is now complete and ready to be displayed at the bridal shower! This unique and creative dessert idea is sure to impress and delight the guests, offering a memorable and tasty treat for the special occasion.

Vegan cupcakes

Ingredients:

For the cupcakes, you will need:

• Vegan butter or neutral oil (such as canola or vegetable oil)
• Granulated sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Apple cider vinegar
• Non-dairy milk (such as soy milk, almond milk, or coconut milk)
• All-purpose flour or cake flour
• Baking powder
• Salt

For the frosting, you can use:

• Cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and orange juice
• Vegan buttercream
• Vegan chocolate frosting
• Vegan cream cheese frosting
• Vegan Swiss meringue buttercream

Instructions:

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F and lining a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. Spraying the liners with a little oil can also prevent sticking.

In a measuring cup or bowl, combine the non-dairy milk and apple cider vinegar, and set aside to curdle, forming a vegan buttermilk.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until combined. You can also add other dry ingredients such as cocoa powder or sprinkles, depending on the desired flavor.

Pour the milk/vinegar mixture, melted vegan butter or oil, and vanilla into the dry ingredients. Whisk until well combined. The batter should be smooth and free of large lumps.

Fill the liners about halfway with batter and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Carefully transfer the cupcakes to a cooling rack and let them cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:

For a simple frosting, mix cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and orange juice to taste. You can also make vegan buttercream or other types of frosting by substituting vegan butter for regular butter in your favorite recipe.

Variations:

• Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Bean Frosting: Use a vanilla cake recipe and top with a vanilla bean frosting and a fresh raspberry.
• Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Vanilla Bean Frosting: Add vegan chocolate chips to the vanilla cupcake batter and top with vanilla bean frosting and mini chocolate chips.
• Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting: Add lemon and vanilla extract to the vanilla cupcake batter. For the frosting, use vegan cream cheese, a small amount of vegan shortening, coconut oil, vanilla extract, lemon extract, and powdered sugar.
• Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting: Use a chocolate cake recipe and top with chocolate cream cheese frosting and chocolate syrup. The frosting can include vegan cream cheese, coconut oil, vegan shortening, butter extract, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder.

Fruity cupcakes

Strawberry Lemon Cupcakes

These cupcakes are a delightful combination of strawberries and lemons. They are made using a strawberry cake mix, strawberry preserves, and vanilla frosting. The recipe is easy and quick, making it a perfect choice if you're short on time. You can also get creative with the presentation by using heart-shaped muffin tins to give them a unique shape.

Real Strawberry Cupcakes

These cupcakes are perfect for a spring or summer wedding shower when strawberries are at their freshest. The delicate, juicy berries lend a beautiful colour and flavour to the cupcakes. Top each cupcake with a strawberry slice for an extra sweet garnish.

Raspberry Iced Tea Cupcakes

These unique cupcakes will surprise your guests with their refreshing flavour. The lemon in the cupcake batter keeps it bright and fresh, while the instant tea powder adds warmth and depth to the frosting. Garnish each cupcake with an edible flower or a raspberry for a charming touch.

Banana Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Transform ripe bananas into delicious cupcakes with the addition of chocolate chips and a rich, tangy cream cheese frosting. These cupcakes look classic but hold a sweet surprise within. This recipe is perfect if you're looking for something that's not overly sweet.

Honey Cupcakes with Strawberries

For a lighter option, these delicately sweetened cupcakes topped with fluffy whipped cream are a perfect choice. They are a wonderful alternative to traditional buttercream-frosted cupcakes, especially if you already have a rich bridal shower menu planned.

Oreo Cookie cupcakes

Firstly, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Then, prepare your batter by creaming together butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl. You can use a stand mixer or an electric hand mixer for this step. Add an egg, vanilla extract, sour cream, and buttermilk to the mixture and blend until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until combined. For an authentic Oreo flavour, use black cocoa powder, which can be purchased online.

Now it's time to add the Oreos! Chop or crush your Oreos, aiming for a fine consistency. You can use a food processor or a ziplock bag and a rolling pin for this step. Fold the crushed Oreos into your batter with a spatula, ensuring everything is well combined.

Next, line your muffin tin with cupcake papers or liners. Transfer your batter into the cupcake papers, filling each one about halfway or three-quarters full. Be careful not to overfill, as the batter will rise during baking. Bake your cupcakes for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

While your cupcakes are baking, you can prepare your Oreo buttercream frosting. Cream together butter, Oreo cream centres, and confectioners' sugar. You can use a stand mixer or an electric hand mixer for this. Add milk or cream to adjust the consistency if needed. Finally, mix in the crushed Oreo cookie shells. Your frosting should be creamy and filled with tiny chocolate flecks!

Once your cupcakes have cooled, it's time to decorate! Transfer your frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large open star tip. Pipe a generous swirl of frosting onto each cupcake. You can also add a whole Oreo cookie to the side of the frosting swirl for added impact. Sprinkle with additional crushed Oreos, and your cupcakes are ready to serve!

These Oreo Cookie cupcakes are a fun and indulgent treat, perfect for a wedding shower or any special occasion. They are sure to be a hit with your guests and a great way to celebrate the happy couple!

Chocolate cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 box of chocolate cake mix (or make your own chocolate cake batter from scratch)
• 1 cup of buttermilk (or milk with a splash of vinegar)
• 1/2 cup of butter or oil
• 1 cup of granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar
• 4 egg whites, at room temperature
• Chocolate buttercream frosting (or your choice of frosting)
• Cupcake liners

Method

• Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.
• In a large bowl, mix together the chocolate cake mix, buttermilk, butter or oil, sugar, and cream of tartar until the batter is smooth.
• Fill the cupcake liners about two-thirds full with batter.
• Bake the cupcakes for 12-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of a cupcake comes out clean.
• Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
• Pipe or spread the chocolate buttercream frosting onto the cupcakes.
• Decorate the cupcakes with personalised toppers or fresh flowers or fruits that match the wedding's colour scheme.

Variations and Presentation Ideas

• Chocolate and champagne cupcakes: Add a splash of champagne to the batter and top with a creamy champagne frosting.
• Chocolate cupcakes with fruit: Add a fruit filling, such as raspberry or strawberry, for a sweet and tangy flavour.
• Gold or silver chocolate cupcakes: Decorate with edible gold or silver leaf for a sophisticated touch.
• Glitter chocolate cupcakes: Add a bit of edible glitter to the frosting for some extra sparkle.
• Chocolate cupcakes with berries: Fill the cupcakes with a berry jam or curd, or top with fresh berries for a colourful and tasty treat.
• Rosy chocolate cupcakes: Top rich chocolate cupcakes with a delicate rose-coloured frosting and add intricate details like edible rose petals or chocolate shavings.

Frequently asked questions