Cupcakes – Do you Love Them?  Or not?

I have a confession to make.  I.Really.Do.Not.Like.Making.Cupcakes.For.A.Wedding.

Don’t get me wrong.  I love being a pastry chef.  I love meeting with prospective clients to help plan their wedding cake displays.  I am a happy kitchen dweller.  My collection of recipe books gives me such pleasure as I “read” through old favourites or the latest cookbooks that have come on the market and mysteriously appear in my collection.  I do eat, live and breathe the life of a pastry chef, and cannot imagine that this will ever change.  But cupcakes……well, cupcakes are somewhat problematic, and here is why:

For the individual who is eating the cupcake, they can present some interesting challenges.

• Cupcakes are typically top-heavy due to their heavy rosette of buttercream frosting and topple over easily.
• Cupcakes are designed to be eaten out-of-hand.  This can create some challenges when you are dressed in formal attire.
• Cupcakes are not unlike tacos or hotdogs – in order to eat them effectively, you really have to tilt your head slightly sideways.  This is not pretty in most cases.

For the pastry chef, the challenges are as daunting.

• Due to the tipsy nature of a cupcake, they are not easily transported, especially when dealing with large numbers.
• Typically, there is an additional charge for set-up since the cupcakes will often need to be frosted and finished at the wedding site to prevent significant damage.

CUPCAKES – LOVE THEM?  OR NOT?

Wedding cake stands are often inadequate for displaying a large number of cupcakes.  This often means having a custom cupcake stand made or for the rental of a wedding cake stand.  These are often quite expensive and typically require a large deposit to ensure their safe return to the rental company.

There is no question that cupcakes are popular and trendy. Numerous options exist for flavours, fillings, frosting, and toppings and it is all dependent on your budget.  For children,  it is an eating adventure! Cupcakes are always welcome additions to children’s parties due to the ease of serving, eating and clean-up.

For this post, I will concentrate on the challenges of cupcakes for more formal events.

There are a few tips to keep in mind when making your decision on what type of wedding cake display you will want for your big day.

Do your research thoroughly by checking out websites and magazines pertaining to wedding cake displays.  You will then be able to decide which option is best for your particular circumstance.

Here are a few wedding cake designs and website links to get you started:

Wedding Cakes:                       http://www.cakecreations.ca/

Martha Stewart Weddings:  http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/cakes

Steps to Consider when planning a wedding cake display:

1. Determine your wedding cake or cupcake display budget before you talk to the bakery or chef.  Cupcakes made in a professional environment range widely in quality and price depending on size, ingredients, fillings, toppings, and decorations.  Most of the cupcake and cake websites will list their pricing structure. As a cautionary note, the price is not always an indicator of quality. I have seen a wedding cake made from a powdered mix and a ‘made from scratch’ cake with the exact same price.
2. Cake Tasting:  cake tastings are usually held on certain days of the week, at certain times, and by appointment only.  There is a cost involved for tastings, costing on the average $50 for two people.  This fee is sometimes, but not always, deducted from the cost of the wedding cake.
3. Deposits of 50% are typically required upon commitment, with the remainder typically due 30 days prior to the wedding.
4. Be open to suggestions or ideas that you may not have previously considered.  For example, sometimes a cake display of tiny individual cakes with a simple decoration is often more appropriate for an elegant wedding.  Small cakes are easily plated and eaten with a fork.  Surprisingly, these exquisite little cakes are often less expensive than filled, topped and decorated cupcakes placed in laser-cut cupcake holders.

Other Considerations:

There are numerous considerations when choosing cupcakes or small cakes for your wedding event.  In order to simplify this decision process, here are some pointers to remember:

1. Do your homework first:  research and decide on theme, flavour, style, colours.
2. Decide on a budget prior to discussing with your prospective providers. Many individuals estimate their costs to be 3 to 4 times lower than the reality of their expectations. Keep in mind that the overall expense of a cupcake display could prove more costly than first anticipated.

In summary, cupcakes do represent a viable option for a wedding cake display.  Consider every option available before making the decision that will prove to be the perfect choice for your special day.  Cupcakes or not, your wedding day is destined to be wonderful.

More Urb’n’Spice Posts you Might Enjoy:

White Chocolate Vanilla Bean Mini Cheesecakes 

Elegant Lavender Rose Individual Cheesecakes

Double Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Urb’n’Spice Dessert Cookbook Series

You can find me on social media (see links below) – just be sure to tag @urbnspice and #urbnspice so I am sure to see it. Enjoy! 

 

Denise Paré-Watson

The Urb’n’Spice Chef

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