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ceshell
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Feb 05, 2006
Posts: 1749
Location: Sunny Southern California
Birthday: May 01
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Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:15 pm |
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A friend of mine is making basic cupcakes for her son's 3rd bd and has asked me for recipes as well as advice on and on how to get the icing red. Apparently he is really into red these days and wants red EVERYTHING.
I've spent lots of time searching the forums for tips on red icing and I think I pretty much get it - from the gamut of no-taste red to Americolor red to Duff's method to cocoa powder to kool-aid. So how to get the red is not the question. After all that reading about what a pain red bc is to make, I'm grateful she hasn't asked me to do them! LOL!!
The question is, do you really dare do red icing on cupcakes, esp. considering the giant pile of icing on top? I'm more concerned about the whole staining thing. Does anyone care about that? Could I suggest that she cheat, like ice the cupcakes with white or chocolate icing...then maybe freeze them and re-ice with a topper of red? Or is that just dumb?
Any suggestions? Or is the answer just: who cares, the color will wear off...eventually...  |
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JoAnnB
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jun 09, 2005
Posts: 7415
Location: Salem, Oregon
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Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:45 pm |
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I think usually, the answer is, who cares, it will wear off. For kids, they love the stain effect, especially when it is blue or green.
For adults, I always make sure they know what they will create. Adults often opt for some other alternative. |
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katwomen1up
Frequent Member
Joined: Nov 22, 2006
Posts: 447
Location: MI
Birthday: Jan 09
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Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:13 pm |
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The red will come off if it gets on anything. It's not as bad as you think, it will be fine. You may want to say something just to warn her that it may get on their clothes, as long as it's pre treated or even washed out before the washer it will be fine. All dark colors are the same.
What is the kool aide thig?
Kat |
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foxymomma521
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Jan 16, 2007
Posts: 1812
Location: WNY
Birthday: Apr 15
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:29 pm |
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I don't know about this, but what about using the wilton spray colors to get them red? Maybe it won't stain all of the kids.?.?... |
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babybundt
Regular Member
Joined: May 23, 2007
Posts: 150
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Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:30 pm |
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maybe you could suggest white icicng and then dip the cup cake in red sprinkles so the entire top is covered with them. just a suggestion.  |
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Shazzana
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 07, 2007
Posts: 36
Location: IL
Birthday: Feb 23
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Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:32 pm |
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i just did the bright red elmo cupcakes and super blue cookie monster cupcakes for my son's 2nd birthday. Just to see the faces of all those kids with that color of frosting was priceless. The parents know that when you have a themed party that some colors will be bright. in my case, NO ONE really cared as long as the kids have fun. |
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mekaclayton
Frequent Member
Joined: Feb 28, 2007
Posts: 382
Location: cordova, TN
Birthday: Jun 02
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Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:34 pm |
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Wilton spray colors will hardly break the surface on the red color. I never use anything other than Candy & cake colors by CK products. No taste whatsoever and it is the reddest I've ever seen. I used americolor burgundy and it was so bitter...but I had to do it for that color. I haven't used americolor for anything else since. |
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AuntieElle
Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 10, 2007
Posts: 577
Location: Texas
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:36 pm |
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Ditto FoxyMomma! Wilton color spray is a magical little thing! My son had a red cake. Never again! I ended up with red stains all over my light carpet! Now, in this house, if it needs red it gets sprayed on. I tried everything to "control" the situation but they are kids!
Elle |
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Incognito
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 11, 2007
Posts: 59
Location: Australia
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Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:40 pm |
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cou;d you not make the cake red instead of the icing? |
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mvhatteras
Regular Member
Joined: Jul 18, 2007
Posts: 108
Location: north carolina
Birthday: Aug 28
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:47 pm |
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we had a pirate party for my nephew a few years ago and we made a cake that looked like a jolly roger flag - more black coloring then i have ever seen. what a mess after the party! |
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ceshell
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Feb 05, 2006
Posts: 1749
Location: Sunny Southern California
Birthday: May 01
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Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:15 pm |
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Thanks for all of the suggestions everyone!
The mom wants red cake AND frosting, which I understand since the kid is 3 and wants red, so why not. I am glad to hear different sides of the spray question - I was curious if that stuff would make them red enough. I wonder if she was able to get them pink, if the spray could finish 'em off into red??
Nonetheless I think you're all right, who cares, they're kids, and imagine the bonus fun of all the kids w/red mouths. I forgot to mention the party is at a park, so carpet stains aren't the issue.
So I'm thinking of suggesting perhaps she do enough red ones for the kids and then do white ones for the grown ups ...hey we like cake too - of course I have an ulterior motive here since I'll be a guest at the party...plus of course less frosting to have to color. I might even make her a batch of IMBC if she's bringing a cooler to the park.
I appreciate all of the input!
Oh and to answer Kat's question, some people suggest putting a pack of Kool-Aid powder into the icing to get it pink, to give it a head start on the direction of red. Of course you have to be OK with your frosting having a cherry or strawberry flavor. I haven't dug up many posts where people actually have done it though. |
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katwomen1up
Frequent Member
Joined: Nov 22, 2006
Posts: 447
Location: MI
Birthday: Jan 09
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Sun Jul 22, 2007 5:21 am |
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Thans for answering the Kool-aid question Ceshell, now I'll know the next time it's mentioned. Good luck wi the cupcakes  |
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ceshell
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Feb 05, 2006
Posts: 1749
Location: Sunny Southern California
Birthday: May 01
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Sun Aug 05, 2007 5:19 pm |
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For anyone who's curious, the party was today and the cupcakes turned out great. She made 6 batches of cream cheese icing, added a small bit of cocoa to start the darkening process, and then used up both an entire container of powdered red AND americolor super-red gel which I'd bought for her. She also started 2 days ahead as directed (from all of the info I got here at wonderful CC).
They were a beautiful BRIGHT red, definitely "Elmo" red, had ZERO bitter taste and best of all, none of us went home with red teeth! The icing still got all over the kids' shirts, etc. but overall, I must say, I no longer fear red icing. Yay! |
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nickir0108
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 27, 2006
Posts: 38
Location: Henderson, NC
Birthday: Apr 26
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Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:32 pm |
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I tried the cherry koolaid and I did not like the taste. As for color, it was awesome, but the taste was less than disirable. |
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