Snowflakes, Champagne Cupcakes that Sparkle

Champagne Cupcakes with a Winter Twist

I've made them many times before... usually in pink.  I have even made them turquoise before, but this time I put a winter twist on the Champagne Cupcakes to serve them at my New Years Eve Eve Dessert Party.

Original Post with Recipe for Champagne Cupcakes

The Champagne Cupcakes recipe is an easy one.  It even uses box mix as your basis for the recipe.  But this time it was the decorations that made the champagne cupcake really stand out.

Making the Cupcake Batter Sparkle:  Before I even got to decorating it, I made the inside of the cupcake shine by using about a 1/4 cup of  Turquoise Shimmer Dust in the batter.  When you bit into the cupcake you got just the hint of sparkle and blue that went along lovely with the snowflake theme.

Decorating the Cupcakes: To decorate I made the Champagne Frosting (see recipe) and tinted it with turquoise food coloring.  When I got it well blended to the desired color I used the star tip, #27 works well, to pipe the icing onto the top of the cupcake.  But it doesn't have to be done with that tip.  You can use a large star tip or even a large round tip to add the icing to the top of the cakes.

What makes these cupcakes stand out are the snowflakes.


Making the Snowflakes:
To make the snowflakes you need parchment paper, a piping bag with a thin round tip (I recommend a disposable bag with a size 3 tip) or candy melt bottle, white melting chocolate, and white shimmer dust.  

Melt the white chocolate in a double boiler.  If you don't have a double boiler you can microwave the chocolate about 20 seconds at a time, checking it constantly and stirring between each time in the microwave.  But I recommend a double boiler or a candy melting pot.  If you have a double boiler make sure its on low and that the water never boils or touches the pot.  It's very easy to burn the chocolate, especially white chocolate.

Once the chocolate is melted load it into your candy melt bottle or piping bag.  This is the tricky part because the chocolate hardens quickly.  I recommend having a plastic container in hot water that you stick the bag into now and then to warm it back up.   If you have a candy melt bottle you can put that in hot water or you can microwave it, but I am a believer in not microwaving plastic.

While the chocolate is loose in your piping bag/bottle, pipe snowflake patterns onto the parchment paper.  You have the be careful and take your time.  After each snowflake stop and sprinkle the shimmer dust onto the snowflake you just created, before the chocolate has a chance to set.  After you do about 6-10 snowflakes, set the tray in a cool room to harden.

Since no two snowflakes are alike, I made every one slightly different, even if some were just by slight variation.  Also be sure to make a lot of extra as they are SUPER SUPER delicate.   Don't expect them to travel well.  If you have to bring them somewhere your best bet might be to package the snowflakes separately and put them on the cupcakes when you get there.  A larger tip (and more chocolate) will make the snowflakes more solid, so if you have to travel I suggest less detail and a larger tip.

OK so I know some of you are thinking, how do I draw a snowflake?

You don't have to draw them freehand. If your not sure print out some snowflake patterns off the internet and use parchment paper you can see through.   Trace all or some of the lines on each snowflake.

Snowflake cupcakes are a beautiful addition to any winter party!