Any bakers out there? I have a few questions

[blessedby3]

My DD22 is getting married in July and she wants to have cupcakes. I figured we would save some money and bake them ourselves. We will have to bake them ahead of time, of course, and I was wondering about the freezing of them and if they will still taste good...and what is the best way to freeze them (what to put them in). I am thinking that the best thing is to freeze the cakes, and ice them a day or two before the wedding.
Does anyone have a good suggestion for a cake receipe/frosting receipe? Thanks so much

 

[clm10308]

I'm not that much of a baker, but last week I made some extra cupcakes for my DDs birthday and froze them. I just put the I frosted cupcakes on a tray until they were frozen. Then I put them in zipper bags. My DD pulls one out each morning to take in her lunch. No complaints so far.
N help on recipies though. I just used a box mix.

 

[java]

Oh me me! I use this yummy basic recipe all the time, try it out and see if it's to your taste, we love it.

http://www.marthastewart.com/353205/billys-vanilla-vanilla-cupcakes


Billys is my favorite NYC bakery for cupcakes and now that he shared his recipe with Martha I feel like I can have them any time. In fact I'm making them for Easter!

I would make the cupcakes and freeze them first in the pan then pop out and put into ziplocs. How many will you have to bake? It might be worth checking into local commercial kitchen space, like in a church with high volume, you might find more ovens.

 

[Kae]

I made 250 cupcakes for my parent's 50th. Did not freeze any so I can't help with that. for Vanilla I just this recipe. The best ever.

http://www.marthastewart.com/portal...0a0aRCRD&center=0&gallery=274293&slide=166489

Plus martha has other ones

http://www.marthastewart.com/274293/televisions-favorite-cupcake-recipes

We use the Pamperchef Esy Accent Decorater for the frosting, we used 2 I filled them up & DNiece did the rest only took us 2 hour to do the frosting. Took me 2 days to do the baking. I made Chocolate too but I didn't like the reciepe I used.

Kae

 

[girli565]

How many cupcakes will you need?

If I was making them myself I wouldn't freeze them. Sometimes they get sticky and lose moisture when defrosted and no one likes a dry cupcake.

Could you bake them all 2 -3 days before and keep them in a a sealed/air tight container until frosting them the night before? That's the soonest I'd do it.

Now if you have the fridge space you could even do it a week in advance and frost maybe 2 days out and keep in the fridge. I kept a crumb coated birthday cake in the fridge for close to 3 days (covered of course) before I covered it in fondant and decorated it the morning of the party.

 

[Karenj2]

This is my all-time favorite cake recipe - I've used it for DD's birthday, and I got loads of complements on it's flavor and moistness.

http://www.food.com/recipe/white-almond-sour-cream-wedding-cake-69630

This recipe is sized for a wedding, so I usually halve it to make my cakes.

 

[girli565]

Oh me me! I use this yummy basic recipe all the time, try it out and see if it's to your taste, we love it.

http://www.marthastewart.com/353205/billys-vanilla-vanilla-cupcakes


Billys is my favorite NYC bakery for cupcakes and now that he shared his recipe with Martha I feel like I can have them any time. In fact I'm making them for Easter!

I would make the cupcakes and freeze them first in the pan then pop out and put into ziplocs. How many will you have to bake? It might be worth checking into local commercial kitchen space, like in a church with high volume, you might find more ovens.

Thanks for this recipe! I'm dying for a good vanilla cupcake and this sounds yummy! I guess I'll be making these for Easter!

 

[AInWonderland]

I make mine and freeze them unfrosted in disposable steam table pans. I triple wrap them in plastic wrap and then cover them with the disposable lid. They stack well in the freezer that way. They freeze very well. I have never had anyone tell they were frozen. I take them out as needed and frost. I make my frostings ahead of time and refrigerate them. Take the frosting out a couple of hours ahead of time and it is good to go.

 

[Zhoen]

I have two little girls and there seems to be a bake sale every two seconds in our lives, so yes, I bake and freeze mass quantities of cupcakes and they are fine when they are defrosted. You are correct to think that you should not frost them until after they thaw. Because I never know much in advance when they're going to surprise me with another event, I assume that my cupcakes are going to be in the freezer a while, and I have had great luck freezing them in rectangular plastic boxes designed for storing scrapbook paper (they are 40% off this week at Michael's, if you have one nearby.) I'm sure that for shorter term, plastic freezer bags would be alright. Just be sure that the cupcakes are completely cooled before you put them in the freezer to avoid ice crystals.


If you google "wilton royal icing" you can find their recommended recipe for the kind of icing for making pretty flowers and such. Or, if you want to cheat (which I do ALLLLlll the time) and have access to a bake shop in your area, you can find a lot of "professional" type accents (big bags of premade icing, really nice pre-done sugar flowers, that sort of thing. You can also find them at some craft stores like Michaels and Hobby Lobby, but always remember to bring the coupons! If you live out-of-the-way, I've seen places online that sell premade flowers, but then you've got the cost, the shipping, and I'd be afraid they'd break on the way. Gum paste or fondant are options, too, sort of like food playdough that you can color and shape.

Have fun, think outside the box, and, most importantly, Mama, don't overcommit yourself, you deserve to enjoy the day, so be sure you don't set yourself up for a 2am emergency icing marathon.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Have fun, think outside the box, and, most importantly, Mama, don't overcommit yourself, you deserve to enjoy the day, so be sure you don't set yourself up for a 2am emergency icing marathon.

I am in total agreement with the above advice.

Think carefully before taking on this job. As the bride's mother, you are going to be very stressed out with all you have to do. Do you really want to take on this task which you will have to complete the day before the wedding? I think that you will end up wishing that you had just paid for someone to do this.

I'm speaking from personal experience!

 

[eliza61]

I too would not freeze them. If you bake them a day a head they should be fine. I make a sugar/water spray if I plan on serving cake 2 or 3 days later that helps retain moisture.

I'm also a big fan of King Arthur flour, here is a yummy cake recipe from their website

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/golden-vanilla-cake-recipe

Also this is a great angel food cake recipe, it calls for a lot of eggs though.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/heavenly-angel-food-cake/

 

[blessedby3]

Thanks everyone for the receipes, ideas and advice
When I say that we will bake them ourselves, I actually mean our family members. I have lots of sister-in-laws that have offered. I just want to have the plan for them ahead of time I know its gonna be crazy busy, that is why I wanted them to bake them the weekend before. We will probably need to bake about 200. DD is going to have a small cake to cut, but we want to mainly have cupcakes. I do have a pampered chef icing kit that someone from church gave me. That is a good idea about seeing if I can use the church kitchen to bake them quicker.

 

[disneymarie]

For a wedding, I would not freeze them and if you need more then 50 would just call SAMs Club or local grocery bakery and price it.

There are far too many things that "happen" last minute at a wedding and you just don't need the worry over cupcakes. I don't think their is that great a savings over one less headache, especially if they burn, fall, storage space, transportation is all figured in.

I made most of the food for our wedding 20 years ago, the baking was nothing I was about to mess with. THe other thing was the meats, the Ham and chicken I had Mom and Pop's deli make, transport and servers.

 

[pixiewings71]

Ok, just jumping in to ask if anyone has a great dairy free cupcake recipe? My two best friends have allergies, one to dairy the other to gluten, as you can imagine it can be a challenge to make cupcakes/cakes for them. LOL

 

[pixiewings71]

I made 250 cupcakes for my parent's 50th. Did not freeze any so I can't help with that. for Vanilla I just this recipe. The best ever.

http://www.marthastewart.com/portal...0a0aRCRD&center=0&gallery=274293&slide=166489

Plus martha has other ones

http://www.marthastewart.com/274293/televisions-favorite-cupcake-recipes

We use the Pampered Chef Easy Accent Decorater for the frosting, we used 2 I filled them up & DNiece did the rest only took us 2 hour to do the frosting. Took me 2 days to do the baking. I made Chocolate too but I didn't like the reciepe I used.

Kae

I used the same thing yesterday when I made cupcakes for my friend, it was so easy!!! Highly recommend this product!!

 

[blessedby3]

For a wedding, I would not freeze them and if you need more then 50 would just call SAMs Club or local grocery bakery and price it.

There are far too many things that "happen" last minute at a wedding and you just don't need the worry over cupcakes. I don't think their is that great a savings over one less headache, especially if they burn, fall, storage space, transportation is all figured in.

I made most of the food for our wedding 20 years ago, the baking was nothing I was about to mess with. THe other thing was the meats, the Ham and chicken I had Mom and Pop's deli make, transport and servers.

I just cant stand the taste of cupcakes from the groceries/sams club. A good homemade one is so much better.
We (my family and church friends) are doing all the food for the reception besides the small cake...but I have lots of help. Im sure it will get a bit hectic, but we have to save money where we can it this is one area we can. I have people assigned to do the food and baking so I wont be doing it directly myself. I am blessed to have these great family and friends

 

[AInWonderland]

pixiewings 71 here is the recipe I use for vegan cupcakes. I do not use coconut oil...I use vegetable oil. http://allrecipes.com/recipe/vegan-cupcakes/detail.aspx As for frosting I use this recipe but I substitute sticks of vegan butter for the real butter. http://www.food.com/recipe/kittencals-chocolate-frosting-icing-89207 . They are delicious.....even for a non vegan.

 

[cornflake]

Freezing is fine, unfrosted! Do NOT put in the fridge - that dries out baked goods like heck and you can't really restore them well. Also don't do three days in advance, that's just gross, it's baked goods, they'll be stale. Freezing is fine.

Whomever asked for the dairy free - best chocolate cake/cupcakes ever. I'm not a vegan, but it's my go-to chocolate cake/cupcake recipe. -

Preheat oven to 350F

In a bowl combine
1 1/2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1/3 c. good cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/3 tsp salt

In a measuring cup combine
1/4 c. oil (I use olive oil, as it's all I keep in the house. Whatever works.)
1 c. cold water
1 tbsp white vinegar
splash of vanilla or some instant coffee or kalhua or whatever.

Pour the wet into the dry, stir to combine well (it foams up a bit), pour into cupcake cups or a square or round baking tin, bake for 25-30 minutes.

 

[girli565]

Freezing is fine, unfrosted! Do NOT put in the fridge - that dries out baked goods like heck and you can't really restore them well. Also don't do three days in advance, that's just gross, it's baked goods, they'll be stale. Freezing is fine.

You'd be surprised at how many bakeries put big orders like wedding cakes/cupcakes in the fridge. Some of the best places (award winning bakeries) do this all the time. How do you think they make those GIANT wedding cakes and hundreds of orders of cupcakes? They start days in advance. Now, their fridges are professional quality ones where you control the humidity and temp, so yes that's different, but still they start prepping way in advance for big orders.

 

[adventure_woman]

We had cupcakes at our wedding and we ended up buying ours. HOWEVER, if I have one piece of advice - still go do the cake testing! We didn't do that, and now I wish I had gone to try all the delicious samples! (but then again....I love sweets!) haha I wouldn't have bought....just ate!