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[Chucky Mama]

I have bought a cupcake recipe book as a Christmas present and was going to combine it with a suitable icing gadget. The question is bag, or syringe. There is a decent looking syringe at J Lewis but it is £20. There are cheap ones on ebay for £5 odd. So my question is syringe or bag and if syringe is the answer should I fork out for a £20? Thanks in advance

[TutuTallulah]

I make cupcakes quite alot as gifts for friends and also take orders now and then when I have time...

 

I find disposable bags the best (the ones I buy are blue with 'non slip grip' - you can buy them on ebay) as I hate the chore of washing out re-usable ones.

 

Syringes are great for cake decorating, but when decorating cupcakes you need to use a really large star piping nozzle, and I think they are too big to fit syringes.

 

I would get a pack of 10 disposable bags and a large star nozzle.

 

Hope this helps x

[Guest]

I made these a couple of days ago, I'm rubbish with a piping bag and it wastes too much buttercream IMO so I just put a spoonful on the top and spread it round with a fork

 

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=296029&id=568396756&l=bc55ec3481

 

they've all gone now!

[Guest]

I'd get the person some nice cupcake cases instead

[Lesley]

I always use a bag - I have washable ones but have also tried the blue disposables - a large star nozzle is great for cupcakes.

[The Dogmother]

I always use a syringe CM - works for me and I'm only an amateur.

 

[C&T]

Have always made my "bags" from greaseproof paper. Works, cheap, and no washing up (apart from the nozzle!)

[Guest]

been thinking, you can always make cupcakes without a piping bag but you can't make them without a muffin tray and cupcake cases.

 

I'd be tempted, if i were you, to buy a muffin tray and some pretty cupcake cases then they can get making cakes straight away!

[chickencam]

We have used both bags and syringes and haven't quite got the hang of either yet.

 

What does everyone use for their icing? I find thick icing too sickly so like to use cream cheese sweetened with icing sugar and lightly coloured with food colouring.

[Guest]

...What does everyone use for their icing? I find thick icing too sickly so like to use cream cheese sweetened with icing sugar and lightly coloured with food colouring.

 

the bog standard 1/2 butter to icing sugar ratio i.e. 250g icing sugar and 125g softened butter and then a couple of drops of colouring.

 

might try your cream cheese idea and add some lemon zest too, lemon cheescake cupcakes!

[chickencam]

It is lovely with lemon zest in, and on a lemon cupcake.

[The Dogmother]

I generally do cream cheese icing, but sometimes make up some glace icing to flood the tops of the fairy cakes with.

[Lesley]

I quite often add cream cheese to standard buttercream - as long as you don't beat it too much after adding as the cream cheese goes runny and affects the texture.

 

There is a knack to using a piping bag and you need to create pressure within the bag to be able to pipe continuously and without wobbly lines. Most recipes which tell you to "fill a piping bag and decorate the cakes" don't bother to explain how to hold the bag!

[chickencam]

This is probably where I go wrong. I am generally too impatient to ice cakes, once baked they just get eaten

 

We may have a go on Thursday night though to make some fancy cakes to sell at work in aid of Children in Need.

[poachedegg]

A spoon of lemon curd added to buttercream is lovely especially if you cut a 5p size out of the cake and spoon a tsp of lemon curd into the cake too........mmmm.

 

I use the blue disposable bags from Lakeland.

 

A tip for practising (from many many moons ago at school) is to use instant mash on the back of a plate, you can simply scoop it back in the bag and practise again - ASDA do smartprice satchets for 16p (I go through the self checkout! )