So it’s your turn to host the New Year party, but you’re out of ideas—and probably short of budget, considering it’s just after Christmas season. But it doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. One thing you can do is replace the usual cake with New Year cupcakes. They’re cheap and simple, but just as tasty and much easier to serve. All you have to do is add a few decorations, and no one can tell it took you all of thirty minutes.
That’s right—you only need half an hour to make New Year cupcakes that look fit for a feast. Just whip up some frosting, buy some fancy toppers, and get creative with your decorations. To get you in the party mood, here are some cupcake decorating ideas you may want to try.
A variety of flavors
While you can do with just one or two kinds, adding more flavors to the table makes the menu more interesting. Instead of making a large batch of each, make smaller batches of different flavors so that your guests can sample everything. Arrange them by flavor on your platter for a more colorful effect. Alternatively, you can add a different kind of frosting to each one to better bring out the flavors (just make sure they match, of course).
The cupcakes don’t have to be anything fancy, especially if you’re not much of a baker. Even basic flavors like vanilla and chocolate can work. To make it more interesting, throw in one or two unusual flavors such as carrot, cinnamon, or blueberry. Just look for simple cupcake recipes that you can do on your own, and add your own spin on the recipe to give your guests a little surprise.
Cupcake decorating
Now here’s the fun part: decorating your cupcakes. You don’t need to be a professional to create those fancy toppings that make simple cupcakes look like a real treat. The easiest way to decorate is with frosting, and the best part is that you can use any color, flavor and texture you want. If you want it fast and easy, just buy some ready-made buttercream frosting from the grocery and spread it on.
If you have more time, you can make it more personal and whip up your own frosting. A basic frosting simply consists of softened butter, icing sugar, some vanilla and a sprinkle of water. Just get the right consistency and add the color of your choice. When you’re ready for something fancier, there are lots of cupcake frosting recipes online that you can experiment with.
Finish off with toppers
Cake toppers make the perfect finishing touch to your frosted cupcakes. The frosting also doubles as the glue for the toppers, so you can make the cakes in advance and they’ll stay on all day. There are lots of designs available these days, from your usual hearts and flowers to quirky ones like insects, sports gear, and farm animals. Most stores sell them by the set, so you can decorate your cupcakes around a particular theme.
Of course, your best bet is to go with New Year or holiday themed toppers. Popular designs include champagne bottles, clocks, confetti, and party hats. During the season, stores usually stock up on these items and may even offer them on sale. Make them more special by using edible New Year cake toppers—not only does it look better on your cupcake, it also gives your guests an extra treat!
Your party theme
Having a theme not only makes planning easier, but also gives your party more character. Your theme can be anything from a color scheme to an entire era or genre, as long as it interests your guests. Of course, you should also plan your menu accordingly. A fiesta-themed party could have a bit of Mexican fare, while a more family-friendly menu would suit a children’s New Year party.
The same goes for decorating your cupcakes. You can do pretty much anything with some simple buttercream frosting and some food color. If you don’t know what goes with your theme, just browse a bit online and you’ll get lots of cool ideas. Complete the look with some plastic cupcake toppers, which you can get from any cake decorating shop. And because they’re plastic, you can wash and use them again for your next party.
Putting it together
New Year cupcakes look their best when they’re creatively put together. Once they’re all frosted and topped, serve them on a stylish platter so that all the colors are seen together. Or if you have enough to fill a cake tower, rent one from your bakery and use it as a table centerpiece. It doesn’t matter if you botched a few cakes or didn’t get the color right—your guests will definitely appreciate the effort, and it’ll certainly get them in a party mood!
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