Dotted-Letter Cupcakes
- 36 cupcakes, such as Yellow Buttermilk (page 26) or One-Bowl Chocolate (page 152)
- 2 recipes Cream-Cheese Frosting (page 303) or Fluffy Vanilla Frosting (page 302)
- 2 recipes Royal Icing (page 315)
- Gel- paste food color (orange, pink, red, and blue are pictured)
- Divide royal icing among four bowls.
- Tint each portion a different color (see page 304 for instructions; keep icing covered while working to prevent it from drying).
- Transfer to four separate piping bags fitted with small plain tips (#3), pressing to remove air and sealing tops of bags with rubber bands.
- Rest tips of pastry bags in glasses with damp paper towels in the bottoms.
- You will need to create a template with your message printed on it; be sure the numbers and letters are spaced well apart (for easy piping).
- Tape template to a work surface.
- Tape a sheet of parchment or waxed paper over the template.
- Pipe solid lines of icing to follow the shape of a letter or number, tracing the template, then pipe dots close together over the piped solid lines.
- Continue for all the letters or numbers, piping with different colors as desired.
- Let dry at least 3 hours or overnight.
- Using an offset spatula, spread cupcakes generously with a smooth layer of frosting.
- Using a clean offset spatula, gently lift a royal icing letter or number from paper and place on each cupcake.
- Decorate extra cupcakes with one or several dots, using tinted royal icing and plain tips in different sizes.
- Decorated cupcakes will keep up to 1 day in the refrigerator in airtight containers; bring to room temperature before serving.
cupcakes, frosting, icing, color
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/dotted-letter-cupcakes-389851 (may not work)