Question: Frosting cupcakes

[yellerpup]

I usually make a rich ganache frosting with butter for decorating cakes; however, I need to deliver 60 cupcakes to be distributed several hours later in guerrilla conditons for the homeless outreach. What I need is a delicious frosting to go on chocolate cupcakes that doesn't need refrigeration and won't slide off if they get jostled. Also should need not too much beating since all I have is a hand mixer that tends to smoke after a minute and a half. I won't be baking the cupcakes until next week, but honestly, I've needed a recipe like this my whole life and I can't think of better people to ask.

[beac]

1. I'm by NO means a cupcake expert (or even an entry-level cupcaker, really) but

I wonder if you could dip the top of the cooled cupcakes in melted white chocolate? Maybe add a little swirl of dark chocolate on top of that after the white cools?

Or is that a totally dumb idea?? Would the cupcake paper get in the way? Maybe drizzling the chocolate over the cupcakes would be the way to go? :shrug:


(I dip the bottoms of my oatmeal cookies in melted chocolate and then cool them in the fridge to set the chocolate, which is what gave me this, maybe moronic, idea.)

Looking forward to what more experienced cupcake wizards have to say. ;)




ETA: OK, my curiosity got the best of me so I Googled and found this post which looks sort of like what I was talking about (minus the "store-bought" aspect, of course and probably minus the pink coloring ;) ): http://www.teaching-tiny-tots.com/mini-chocolate-covered-cupcakes.html

[yellerpup]

2. Hmmm... that could work.

I was reading in the NY Times this morning that you can make an instant chocolate shell by melting chocolate with coconut oil (for pouring over ice cream) that sets up instantly when it meets cold. I'm leery of working with white chocolate because in the past I have trouble maintaining the right temperature with it. I don't have the same problem with dark chocolate, so I'm not sure why but my experiments with white chocolate usually turn out sub par. I like to lash melted chocolate over the tops of some cookies for decoration, and dipping the bottoms in chocolate also sounds like something I would try. Thanks for your input, beac. Haven't decided what to do just yet, but I'll let you know when I get the meal together. Thanks! :hi:

[beac]

3. I think chocolate and dark chocolate would be great. I actually prefer it to white, but

I guess I got distracted thinking of "contrast"--- who needs contrast when you can have DOUBLE DARK CHOCOLATE?

Looking forward to hearing what you come up with. :hi:

[beac]

4. Oh, and I recently read that raw coconut oil is great for washing your face, so

you'd have something to do with any leftover oil. ;)

[yellerpup]

5. I buy coconut oil by the 1/2 gallon.

I fry and bake with it and use it as an all-over body moisturizer. While I was still in the shower yesterday (I wash with soap first) I smoothed coconut oil all over and with the residue on my hands, I ran them over my freshly washed hair. My hair turned out shiny and soft with no frizz and lots of natural curl. I'm getting ready to do it again as Mr. Pup is taking me out tonight. I am a huge fan of coconut oil. :thumbsup:

On edit: 1/2 gallon

[beac]

6. And I bet you smell nice too!

Definitely putting coconut oil on my shopping list! :)

[yellerpup]

9. I do! Subtle fragrance, but it does make hubby want to

break out the ukelele! Anyone care to join me in a hula? :pals:

[trud]

7. yellerpup

Doesn't that clog up the drain? That's what keeps me from using bath oil.

[yellerpup]

8. We live in a NY apartment where plumbing

is fierce and not easily monkey wrenched. I have not had a problem with clogs and since I am good friends with the tenants below me I would know if problems had been caused for them. Coconut oil is liquid at room temperature (provided the room is warm). The warmer your shower is, the thinner the coconut oil is--it's not like dumping bacon grease down the drain. Although, now that you've brought it up I am thinking of my aunt and uncle's septic system and I would have to think twice about using it there. :hi:

[KC]

10. Where do you

buy it ? At a store or online ?

[yellerpup]

11. From the coconut oil thread from last week....

Here is a link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=236x85845#85879

I buy online and the above link has all the info. I love a good deal! :hi:

[Warpy]

12. A basic butter and/or cream cheese plus confectioner's sugar

with whatever flavoring(s) you want to add to it should work. I don't have a specific recipe, I'm a handful of this and squirt of that kind of cook, but you should be able to find basic proportions at most recipe sites. I don't frost cupcakes, I just dip the cool ones head first into the bowl and twirl them in the frosting, it's a really efficient way to get several dozen done quickly.

Cooling the cupcakes completely is the key to keeping the frosting on them, as well as making sure the frosting has enough sugar in it to be really stiff. You will have to do a lot of beating, but a good hand mixer should be up to the job.

I'm assuming you're not going to be delivering them anywhere that's over 90 degrees. I'm afraid only a boiled frosting can be trusted in that sort of environment.

[yellerpup]

13. Thanks so much.

Twirling the tops in frosting is exactly what I had in mind for so many dozens. The directions you gave, I can follow very well. At this time of year in NYC (at night) the crew dishing out the meals should have no problem with the frosting dropping off. I'll make the cupcakes the day before so they will cool completely and frost them after I get the soup going. I usually provide either cookies or fruit, but this is my birthday month and I want to share the joy of having another one (in good health) with everyone. I think I'm going to make the soup of lentils, chicken, sausage, and greens and butter big chunks of Italian bread to go with it. Thanks again, this is just what I was hoping to discover. :hi:

[beac]

14. So glad someone gave you a tried-and-true solution.

I was feeling a little guilty for steering your thread off into the meandering coconut oil side street. ;)

[yellerpup]

15. No worries!

Coconut oil is up-to-the-minute this week. It was even featured on the front page (Wednesday, March 2, 2011) of the Dining In section of the NYT this week. Everyone should know!

Besides, I DID get the direction I was looking for and I am avidly planning my next 'catering' gig for next week. Because it is my birthday month, I think I'm going to top the cupcakes with sprinkles and a fresh strawberry. :party: Wish I could afford to provide these meals more often because I enjoy doing them so much. Don't feel guilty, beac! :hug:

[beac]

16. Good to know my sidetrack is on the fast track! LOL.

And you are a really sweetie for doing somthing so wonderful much for others. :applause:

HAPPY BITHDAY MONTH TO YOU!!

[yellerpup]

17. Every person who gets one of the meals would much prefer

to be doing what I'm doing rather than doing what they're doing. Don't applaud me; I get a lot of satisfaction from helping a little bit. Thanks so much for the pretty birthday cupcake! I love sprinkles! :loveya:

[yellerpup]

18. UPDATE...Thanks, Warpy!

The frosting on the cupcakes worked perfectly! In case any of you would like to see the birthday present I gave to myself, I posted a slideshow of the Midnight Run food donation on my blog. The bean stew was outstanding! http://www.vickismenu.com/

edit for glitch in link

[beac]

19. What a lovely meal...and self-present!

I am so stealing your roasted red pepper hearts. Can't wait to surprise mr. beac with a little extra "lovin' from the oven." ;)

[yellerpup]

22. Mr. Pup loves them!

He loved the soup, and said it was not just delicious, but that it was the cutest soup ever! I'm one happy birthday girl this morning! Have a great day! xoxo :hi:

[eleny]

20. Happy Birthday and congrats on successful cupcakes!

Also, I snagged your butternut-apple soup recipe. Thanks!!!


P.S.

[yellerpup]

23. Thank you, eleny!

It's snowing this morning and I am going to have a fantastic day! Hope your day is fantastic, too! xoxo :hi:

[hippywife]

25. Happy Birthday, Love!

I'm so glad your birthday present to yourself came off so well for everyone concerned. :hug:

Thank you for the email yesterday. I just responded a little bit ago, but I did read it when it arrived and it did help immensely. Made me smile when I really needed it.

[yellerpup]

26. Well, I can stop celebrating now, I suppose.

What a great birthday (week, month, etc.) I had this year! Glad that you are feeling better, and LOVE thinking of you with a smile on your face. :loveya:

[TreasonousBastard]

21. Here's what I did once when I had warm chocolate cupcakes that HAD to be...

frosted RIGHT NOW!

Sliced the round tops off, to make them flat and tougher for things to slide off.

Slathered the now flat tops with raspberry preserves.

Covered the raspberry preserves with Nutella.

[yellerpup]

24. I love that solution!

raspberry and Nutella...ooooh! Wish I'd thought of that combination. Thanks for the tip! :hi: