Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with cupcake

Single cupcake delivery in LA?

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:45:26 -0800

Help me deliver a single cupcake to my girlfriend's hotel room in Los Angeles by Friday evening. I'd like to make a cupcake magically appear in her room, because she loves cupcakes and will be totally stressed out by the end of the week. She's leaving Saturday, so I have a couple days to try and work out how to get a single cupcake delivered. I tried Sprinkles but they have a minimum order of one dozen cupcakes. Perhaps there's some sort of baked good courier that rides around town? I'm happy to pay extra for the delivery. (Yes, this'll be the most expensive cupcake ever - but that's okay.) The destination zip code is 90045.

I want to have my cake & frost it, too!

numinous — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:23:27 -0800

[Cupcake-Filter]: Why is my cream cheese frosting an irreparable mess? How can I make some that is temperature stable? Great culinary minds of the hive, I beseech you! I recently finished a test-batch of Mummy cream-cheese frosted red velvet cupcakes that I plan on making again for my younger sister’s halloween party in two weeks. They are darling and festive, and she is over the moon with the presentation. However, frosting them and having them retain their shape is a NIGHTMARE!

While the recipe I used results in a delicious frosting, it ends up being a hugely goopy mess when it warms to room temperature. Getting the ribbons to keep their shape is difficult; even applying the ribbons in the first place was a challenge, as the frosting kept melting in the bag while in my hands. Making cupcakes should never be this frustrating! (I want them to taste like love, not bitter resentment.)

I’ve tried refrigerating them first to “set” the frosting, but 20 minutes after being set on the counter the frosting begins to melt. This is problematic as these cupcakes will have to sit out in room temperature for approximately 2 hours during the course of the upcoming party.

The recipe I used is as follows:

12 ounces or 1-1/2 packages of Philly cream cheese
1/2 stick Smart Choice (Vegan Butter Substitute)
4-5 cups sifted powdered sugar
seeds of 1/2 vanilla bean
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

What is the secret to finding a temperature-stable cream cheese frosting?
Should I substitute the vegan butter with vegetable shortening? Should I be using more of something, and less of another?

I know that there must be some solution, as evidenced by the numerous cupcake bakeries (Magnolia, Sprinkles, Miette, Yummy Cupcakes, etc.) that leave their cream-cheese frosted cupcakes on display with great success (and no melting!). What is their secret? I would like the frosting to be as close to this recipe as it can be (no HFCS if at all possible, for instance), but I am definitely open to suggestion. Thank you!

Give me cupcakes or give me death!

mrhaydel — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:18:23 -0800

Where can I find awesome cupcakes in D/FW, D.C., and Boston? After (finally) purchasing a baker's dozen of cupcakes from Sprinkles Cupcakes in Dallas, I've come to the realization that I want to seek out other cupcakeries both in my hometown, and upcoming travel destinations. I'm in Arlington, Texas, so, Sprinkles in Dallas is/was a rather far drive (albeit worth it IMO).

All that being said, I'm really wanting to find some great places to get great cupcakes. And, I'm not talking about your run of the mill Mega Mart kind that come in a plastic container. I'm talking about the gourmet type with amazing flavors like Ginger Lemon and Key Lime.

First and foremost, I'm interested in bakeries in the Arlington/Fort Worth, TX area. Ideally, these bakeries wouldn't be much further west from Arlington than downtown Fort Worth already is, but, I'm willing to drive if the cupcakes are mind blowing.

Secondly, I will be traveling to Annandale, VA/Washington, D.C. in October, and Boston, MA in November. I'd love to check out cupcakeries while I'm there if at all possible.

Bonus points if you've actually frequented your suggestion and can recommend your favorite flavor.

So, help me, Hive Mind, you're my only hope!

Help me make the best cupcakes ever.

The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:24:18 -0800

What are the best cupcakes you've ever ever had? How can I make them? I'm looking to bake the best, most delicious, wonderful cupcakes ever. Like, cupcakes that would win awards. So please, share with me your tips, tricks, and recipes, and maybe i'll send you a few. okay, probably not really.
also, bonus points for a really really good cream cheese frosting.

Cupcake method/recipe/mix recommenations?

alpha_betty — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:42:49 -0800

Recommend cheap, delicious/impressive, easy-in-large-batch (cup)cake recipes, methods, or mixes. For our August wedding, my fiance and I will be making cupcakes in lieu of a wedding cake. We want to make 2-3 kinds for a total of 80-100 cupcakes. What's the best way to make impressive (as in, not obviously homemade) cupcakes for so many people without losing our minds? Answers may be in the form of 1) cake mix hacks 2) cake recipes or 3) kick ass (gourmet?) cake mix recommendations. Flavors don't so much matter but bonus points for some a bit off the beaten path.

Cupcake liners

triggerfinger — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:39:49 -0800

I need cupcake liners. I am in the UK and I would like to make cupcakes. While I can find pans that seem to be the right size, the only liners I can find are fairy cake size or muffin size. Does anyone know where in the UK I might be able to find standard sized American cupcake liners? I would prefer that they be paper (not silicone) and I am willing to order them online. Thanks in advance!

Silicone cupcake liners arent nonstick

darsh — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 08:49:00 -0800

I just recieved a set of silicone cupcake liners, v silimar to these , and tried them out yesterday. However, the cupcakes wouldn't come out in one piece - every single one broke and crumbled when I tried to release it. Does anyone know how to prevent baked goods from sticking to these things?

Icing, icing baby

sugarfish — Mon, 26 Dec 2005 17:53:27 -0800

Do you have a killer icing recipe? I'm making a cavalcade of cupcakes for my birthday next week and I want to make some yummy buttercream icing to go with. I'm really looking for the kind of icing you get on store-bought cupcakes, the kind that's pretty toothy when you bite in. Not whipped cream, though. I've made buttercream icing before that was pretty much just butter and powdered sugar and I didn't like the flavor so much. I think the flavor I'm going for maybe has shortening in it?

I found this thread for chocolate, but if you have chocolate ones you want to throw in, I won't complain :D

Seeking help in Iding a TV commercial (from the 80s?) ("lets go out to the kitchen")

boost ventilator — Tue, 30 Nov 2004 21:19:33 -0800

My girlfriend has a fond memory of TV commercial (from the 80s?) starring various tasty treats singing "Let's go out to the kitchen and fix ourselves a snack" in what I assume to be a spoof on the "Let's go out to the lobby" promos from the drive-in era. In particular, she is haunted by a cupcake with icing "hair" that flops back and forth as he moves. Does anyone know where I can find a copy of this? Or maybe even more details about the ad...was it for milk?