Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

Hi, not sure if I’ve dreamt or read this but I have been trying to think of a filling for a chocolate cupcake and I am convinced I have seen somewhere that you can put a bit of chocolate ganache on top of the cake mixture before it goes into the oven – but that doesn’t make sense to me!!!! Help – again!!

Hi annescakes1

I can’t find anything about this on the site but yes you can put a dollop of ganache on cupcake batter before baking, approximately a teaspoon full. You’ll find some instructions here http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2013/08/19/best-chocolate-cupcakes-recipe/ When I used to bake cupcakes I also did it with jam, lemon curd, marmalade, cream cheese or any thing else which would give moisture.

Hi madeitwithlove, thank you again for coming to my rescue! With the modelling paste, can I add colour the same as you would with fondant or do I have to buy all different colours in modelling paste to make figures? Thanks! x

Hi, have just looked up the website and that’s where I saw it! Would you then top it with choc buttercream or choc ganache? x

First the gum paste – you can colour the gum paste in the same way as you do fondant, add little at a time and let it rest to develop. If you add too much all at once the colour will darken and may not be the shade you want.
Make your models as soon as you can to allow them plenty of time to dry. Small models can take as little as a couple of days and larger ones as much as two or three weeks. I’ve had a lady figure drying now for over a week and she’s still not completely dry. For the cupcake, yes you can either swirl butter cream or ganache on the top. You could if you wanted to decorate them like Paul has in the cupcakes tutorials with fondant. There are lots of attractive texture mats available for wedding cupcakes. You’ll find some ideas here http://www.cakeflix.com/online-cake-decorating-courses/cupcakes and here http://www.cakeflix.com/online-cake-decorating-courses/wedding-cakes-and-styles And if you want to make a double colour swirl see it here http://www.cakeflix.com/blog/how-to-create-a-two-tone-swirl-on-a-cupcake
Hope some of these help. x