RUSSIAN PIPING TIPS

This is such a fun project and as you will see a nine year old can do this.  I had been seeing these tips for awhile and finally purchased. You can find many videos on YouTube.  I will put a link at the bottom for purchase of these - there are many kinds but I just bought the least expensive to try - $8.95 for a set and on Amazon Prime to boot. When these are used with some experience the results are really amazing, for just a little work.  Once I find the correct recipe for a really stiff buttercream I will do a little cake and post that - I just wanted to go ahead and post our "not so perfect" creations because this is really fun to do and kids can do this too.

To make things easier I used this pumpkin mix.  Since I am always looking for ways to add some nutrition, I added some toasted walnuts, some raisins and did a cream cheese topping.  The topping is great because, had we not wanted to try out the tips, I would have not frosted the cupcakes, and they would have been much healthier - but for my dear granddaughter with a sweet tooth, not as good!

Use your favorite buttercream frosting recipe, but I must let you know this frosting needs to be as stiff as you can make it, or the "flowers" will collapse. I prefer gel paste coloring as I think you get the best colors with the gel.

Cupcakes ready for the oven...

Cooled and ready to frost.....

I just used a leaf tip for the green and picked out at random one of the Russian tips - ready to get to work!

Tada, not wonderful but right away I see this could be very easy if my buttercream had been stiffer.

#2 a little better, need practice...

My darling Belle did one - in her adorable vintage apron from dear Gayle - she loves the apron too! The little faces are kitties!

All done and in very quick order too!

Here they are and you cannot tell in the photo they are quite large so just use one of the plastic pastry bags and cut the tip larger than normal - beware, it is easier to cut again, than to have to toss out a bag so be careful making your cut.

Cream Cheese Swirl Recipe

Ingredients:

80z cream cheese
1/4 Cup granulated sugar
1 Lg egg yolk
2 t Pure vanilla extract

Directions:

In a bowl mix all ingredients until well combined. Top each muffin with a tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture and using a toothpick or something similar, swirl the cream cheese into the cupcake and bake as your recipe/package directs.

Resource

Russian pastry tips, http://amzn.to/2fpDBs6
Gel Paste Food Color, http://amzn.to/2fDhOCf
Black & white cupcake liners: http://amzn.to/2fLVWUm
Plastic pastry bags, http://amzn.to/2eHKLI0

Thank you for stopping by!