Ok mamas, here's one for you.
As many of you know, I'm a baker. We tailgate on days when the San Antonio Talons are playing home games. This weekend I will be making cupcakes for the first time in a while. (I've been making other desserts, but my nickname is Cupcake and everyone is begging for some more cupcakes.) I'll also be making a birthday cake. Great, right?
Not so much.
As some of you might know, the heat has been overwhelming here! We hit 104 today. Saturday is only supposed to be 97, but then you add the heat index and we'll be over 100 again. How do I keep the frosting on cupcakes from melting? The only thing I can think of is to get a separate cooler just for the cupcakes and put those reusable ice packs in there with the boxes of cupcakes. (I use cardboard boxes to hold my cupcakes.)
Any other ideas?
ETA: I'm not as worried about the cake, because it will be a smaller cake covered in fondant. It'll be easier to keep it cool. (I'm doing a shoe box cake with a chocolate high heel shoe on top!)
Thanks!
I won't change my recipes to add shortening.
Usually I'm against freezing my cakes/cupcakes, but I'm thinking this might be the way I have to do it. I've also considered putting the frostings in a tupperware container, putting them in the cooler with all the other cold things, then piping them when I get there. Yes, I have decorations. Some are chocolate, some are chocolate plastic. They'll all go on at the last minute.
Denise! I've missed you girl! I can now accept credit cards (so excited about that!!) so I've expanded the business some! And you don't need a birthday to order cupcakes, you can get some because it's Friday!! ;)
Thanks all for the suggestions. I'll let you know how it all works out!
I would not use anything with dairy in it, to begin with, but I really think they will be okay.
Cold baked goods are nasty (my personal opinion- as is cold pasta). I would not put them on ice (or ice packs) in a cooler. I would frost them when I got there as people wanted them.
Make a cupcake bar! Frosting, sprinkles, candies, cookie crumbs, etc, and let everyone decorate their own cupcake.
I'm just north of you where it was 108 yesterday, ouch! I use glazes instead of frosting when it's hot. Just as tasty but won't get all melty. I actually prefer a glaze to frosting, the latter is too much sweet. :)
I have no advice just wanted to tell you I was thinking about you and your cupcakes the other day. Trying to figure out another birthday so I can order some more!! They are soooooooo DELICIOUS!!!
Hope you and the family have fun!
Blessings!
D.
A simple frosting recipe of powdered sugar, water and flavoring/coloring might hold up better in the heat. Something similar to a glaze for a bundt cake but more substantial - sorry I don't have my mom's recipe handy.
Girl I feel for you. I had an order last week for 2 dozen pistachio cupcakes with cream cheese icing. I cooled off my car and then drove them to the clients work.. transferred them to the tray and carried them inside.
They looked pretty pitiful..I just sprinkled extra pistachios on top.
I like the idea about the cooler with the ice packs or the cold frozen water bottles. in the cooler with the cupcakes.
It is expected to be 107 later this week, and so I am making sheet cakes for that event.
I love, love, love buttercream icing, but on a hot and sticky Kansas City day I know I can't make it ahead of time and expect it to last. For summer I have to switch to a royal icing that is much more stiff. Not as decadent, but not as much hassle, either.
do a test run first. make a few cupcakes and small batches of icing, some with out butter and see what works best. perhaps a glaze would work if the icing is melting off. i remeber many outdoor bake sales and do not remember icing being an issue. also dont just blob it on decorate them like you would incase your fluffy swirls turn to mushy swirls???
Are you decorating the cupcakes or are they just yummy, tasty treats? I do cake decorating as well. Last year I brought some to family in Llano, TX for our annual campout. It was well over 100 degrees. I made and frosted my cupcakes and then froze them. I know freezing cake it a big debate in the cake world and usually I am against it. This time I made an exception for the Texas heat. It worked out really well. I don't think decorations would have held up to the freezing though, they did sweat a bit as they defrosted.
Instead of ice packs, I have packed a small cake with a gallon jug of frozen water. That worked pretty well without making a mess. I think the jug kept things cooler than those freezer packs. I wrapped my cake box in a large plastic trash bag to keep the boxes dry. That worked pretty well too. But I did duct tape the jug so it wouldn't roll over my cake on my four hour trip to Austin.
Use Dry Ice in your cooler.
Maybe put them in a cooler with dry ice or a large container (like the milk jug idea). Good luck!
Okay... From your titles brain filled in the following:
Frosting and the Texas heat is why god made fondant.
Cupcakes are a CINCH! though...
Pastry bag in your cooler. Pipe and hand out. People LOVE this. Mostly because it's kinda fun. Some will want MONSTER icing piped on. Others will want naked cupcakes.
In extremely hot climates even posh affairs often have frosting piped on in different types (and is the birthplace of chocolate fountains or spun sugar decorations). For a fun and casual tailgate? You're set!!!
If you're a decorator... Just freeze the decorations. Pipe base, pop on dec, hand out.
You can freeze the cupcakes the day before then put them in the cooler.... or you can keep the frosting in piping bags in the cooler, then quickly pipe the icing on at the location.
You can use decorator's buttercream in the heat - it's made with shortening instead of butter so won't melt as easily. Meringue icing and cooked buttercream are also more heat resistant.
Lots of ideas here, and in the comments section:
http://www.thekitchn.com/what-frostings-and-icings-wont-1...
You could always try a frosting recipe that contains more shortening than butter since it takes a higher temp for the shortening to melt. Or one based entirely on shortening.
