I made three dozen cupcakes this week for some friends and I loved their idea. They wanted me to make cupcakes with blue or pink filling for a gender revealing party they were planning for all their friends and family. They had the ultrasound picture with the gender written on it put in a sealed envelope. During that part of the ultrasound, they looked away so it would be a surprise for them at the party as well (I was impressed with their self-control...they didn't even peak in the envelope:). They brought me the envelope right after the ultrasound since the party was scheduled for that evening.
The design of the cupcakes was left up to me. I decided to make a simple design using green and yellow (gender neutral colors). In fact, these baby booties were one of the first cake decorating techniques my dad ever taught me. It's simple, but looks so cute for baby showers. And, it's the perfect design for my first lesson:)
First, I filled the cupcakes. I simply made vanilla pudding the night before and colored it light pink when I saw the ultrasound pic. It's a girl!!
Next, put it in a piping bag. It's best to use an injector tip, like this one in the picture (I found this bag and tip on the clearance aisle at Wal-Mart for $1!- normally I do NOT recommend plastic decorating tips...except in this case...decorating with them makes things sloppy). If you don't have one, no problem! You can use a regular round tip (I would recommend a #7) and just push the end deep into the cupcake and squeeze a good blob of filling. Your decorations will cover up the hole it makes.
For the booties, you will need two simple tips. A large round tip (#10-12) and a small round tip (#2). Here are the colors I used.
Next, ice the cupcakes with a large dollup of icing. I just used my white icing bag (pictured above) but without a tip. Start in the center and squeeze hard until icing covers most of the cupcake. If it makes a point on the top, simply wait a couple minutes until your buttercream hardens and smash it down with your finger or a paper towel until it's all flat.
Now hold your icing bag at an angle and make two tear-drops in the center.
It should look like this. Practice on a piece of parchment paper or tin foil first until you feel comfortable putting it on the cupcake. You can just scrape off your practice ones and put it right back in your pastry bag:)
Now, squeeze a little icing on the tips of the tear drops.
Wait just a minute until the buttercream is no longer really soft and press down the peak. You can just use your finger, or a wooden spoon for more of a defined dent like I did.
Now, with your #2 tip, pipe a fringe like this:
Or this:
Then, add your laces with the same icing tip and voilà!
There you have it, cute little baby booties!!
Before this post is over, I want to say CONGRATULATIONS to all of my pregnant friends! There are so many of you soon-to-be moms out there, and I wish I could see all of you and your sweet little blessings. I hope some of you may be brave and try these;)
Calissa - I especially thought of you so I'm dedicating this post to you and your little one! I wish we lived closer so I could make these for your party Monday, but I hope you'll be willing to try them...I know you can do it!!
p.s. I saw the pics of Lily's first birthday cake and you did a great job!!!:D
Let me know if you have any questions. Have FUN!!!!
Love,
Annie
