Hi everyone. I am very new to cake central and have found my new 'passtime' so enjoyable. I have never made cupcake and am looking for 'beginners guide' - kiddie proof recipe, i.e non fail!

Please excuse my ignorance, but how do you get the vibrant colours in your buttercream frosting? Do you just use food colouring?

Any help and guidance would be appreciated. I'm looking for really nice cases too, so any pointers would be appreciated.

Fiona- Isle of Skye, Scotland

Welcome! Might suggest you check out this thread..... http://tinyurl.com/5wlb32 . It's a lot of reading but TONS of recipes & info! Also might suggest you try out the Search tab at the top of the webpage & type in things like "cupcake carrier" & you should get threads that will leave you to various topics. Sure others with more knowledge can help you directly but until then hopefully these 2 suggestions will help.

Forgot to add the link to the cupcake forum.... sorry! http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-forum-33.html

A- Baking cupcakes, No big! Line the cupcake pans with paper liners and fill 2/3s full with regular cake batter. Bake at the same temp. as suggested for the cake only not as long- about 15 to 17 minutes more or less.

B- Vibrant colors - Use paste or gel colors. I don't know what brands are available in Scotland. Look for a cake decorating store or website in your part of the world. Personally, I like Americolor brand colors. http://www.globalsugarart.com/cat.php?cid=858 This company, which also sponsers this website if you mention CC to them, also ships internationally.

C. Cup cake carriers- no clue.

I have a nice Tupperware cake carrier that you flip the base over and has 18 places for cupcakes.

Of course, I don't send that out with orders...I just use a 10X14 bakery box and the cardboard cupcake inserts.