Ask Nancy Archives
Do you have a baking, decorating or celebrating question for Nancy? Now is your chance to have it answered.
Check here each month, Nancy will select ten questions submitted by viewers and posting her answers here.
Cupcakes and Mini Cakes Questions
I am 9 years old. My mom is having a baking party for me and my friends. I would like to make a cute but simple design on my cupcakes. Can you please give me some ideas?
leonine - from roosevelt, NY
Our local PBS station has stopped airing your show. How should i approach this? I really miss it.
linda - from sharpsville, PA
I will be making wedding cupcakes for my niece's wedding and I was wondering if I can put royal icing flower decorations on top of Wilton's buttercream?
Christina - from Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
The last time I made cupcakes for an event, I baked and frosted them the day before and left them in the refrigerator over night. The container was covered. The next morning I took it to the event, but it was not served until 11:20. By then the piped star frosting was very soft but the design still showed, and the frosting slipped to the side from some of the cupcakes. By the way I use canned icing from the grocery store. What can I do to prevent the frosting from melting and slipping off the cupcake?
Meranda - from Boston, MA
I am trying to make monogram "C"'s to place on top of 90 mini wedding cakes iced with Italian Meringue Buttercream. I have been piping the letters on parchment and am already worried about breakage. I read somewhere that waxed paper is better? Also, how would you go about storing them, transporting them, and securing them to the top of the cakes. Would they hold up in the fridge? Thanks!
Bridget - from Corvallis, OR
Where are the directions for the lady bug cupcake? It's darling. Thank you.
Marianne - from milwaukee, WI
When baking pound cake it cracks in the middle. Why?
Alma - from Riverdale, IL
Hi Nancy, I was wondering how to make a soccer ball cake?
- from , WA
Why do my cakes have a soggy center or bottom? I make sure I mix the batter thoroughly and not make the batter too thin, and I do not underbake.
Gladys - from Singapore, Singapore
Nancy, what are some cute simple ideas for cupcake decorating?
Hannah - from los angeles, CA
I want to know if all the cake recipes can be done as cupcakes instead of complete cakes?
Nieves - from Mexico, Mexico
How far ahead can you make brownie pops, cookie pops and pops made wih candy melts?
Lisa - from philadelphia, PA
We are plannng to have red velvet cupcakes (100)for our wedding. My plan would be to make the cupcake 3 weeks in advance, freeze them, then bring them out a week before the wedding, decorate them while frozen with a buttercream icing freeze them in containers. Take the cupcakes out of the freezer a day before the wedding and keep them cool until setting up. Would this work?
Darlene - from yellowknife nt, Canada
What is the tip number for swirl icing on a cupcake?
Carol - from Beaver Falls, PA
Can I put cream in the center of a cupcake, and if so how?
Lyann - from San Jose, CA
How do you fill a cupcake? I’ve seen photos of fillings in them.
Ingrid - from Victoria, BC Canada
I have several mini-cake pans. I am doing jack-o-lanterns today. How do I color the design so it stands out without completely frosting the mini-cake?
Tammy - from Niles, MI
Hi! I wanted to know, how can I freeze cupcakes? Is it better to freeze them with or without the icing?
Paola - from Mexico City, Mexico
I was looking into making the caterpillar cupcakes, but wasn’t sure how to get the different color icings. Can I make the colors, or do I have to buy cupcakes in different colors?
Jessica - from Houston, TX
How do I get my cupcakes to dome on top?
Tara - from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
I’d like to see cupcake sizes added to the “Baking and Serving Guide.” What is the correct amount of batter to use in different sizes of cupcake liners?
Tara - from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Hi, Nancy. Do you have any tips for filling cupcake liners so they come out even?
Lana - from Fishers, IN
My friends and I tried to frost our cupcakes with buttercream icing, but the icing melted too quickly. What can we do to prevent this?
Ainaa - from Singapore, Singapore
How far in advance can cupcakes be made, decorated and stored before a baby shower?
Deborah - from Newark, DE
How much do I fill the cups when making cupcakes?
Adriana - from San Antonio, TX
When serving cupcakes, should you take the paper off or leave it on?
Darlene - from Maple Ridge, BC
What is the best way to do cut out mini cakes or petit fours?
Barbara - from Carrollton, VA
What is the best way to do cut out mini cakes or petit fours? Is it necessary to freeze the cake before frosting? I tried to make them and there were lots or crumbs and the edges were not as sharp as I would have liked? What can you do with leftover cake scraps?
Kelley - from Sherwood, AR