Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, best-selling authors of the book Hello, Cupcake!, spent a few days here in the Taste of Home Test Kitchen creating some unbelievably impressive cupcakes—no special tools or talents required!
Easy Cake Mix Cupcakes
For this Easy Cake Mix Cupcakes recipe, there are no rules. The only thing required is a creative imagination.
—Karen Tack, Riverside, Connecticut
Royal Icing
Our home economists share their recipe for this classic Royal Icing that sets up and dries quickly. It's especially nice to use when cookies will be stacked on a plate.
—Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Cupcake Cookie Pops
Take sugar cookie dough to a whole new level with these Cupcake Cookie Pops. Using purchased refrigerated dough allows more time for the fun stuff—decorating!
—Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Tips from the Test Kitchen
Marshmallow Flower Petals
With kitchen scissors, cut pastel marshmallows in half. Dip each cut side in colored sugar. Arrange marshmallow petals on cupcakes, forming flowers.
Cookie Pop
When making the Cupcake Cookie Pops, place lollipop sticks 2 in. apart on foil-lined baking sheets. Place cutout cookie dough on each; press down gently.
Decorate Cookies with Royal Icing
Using a pastry bag and plain Royal Icing, outline each cookie; let dry. Tint remaining icing with colors of your choice. Working one cookie at a time, fill in the center with tinted icing; spread to the edges of the outline with a toothpick. Repeat with remaining cookies. Let dry completely.
Cutouts with Candy Centers
Place cutout cookie dough on foil-lined baking sheets. Cut out and remove centers of each. Carefully fill the centers with crushed hard candy.
More Resources
Find cupcake recipes, tips, videos and more from Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, authors of What's New, Cupcake? and Hello, Cupcake!.
Get cupcakes»
Learn how to decorate a cake like the pros! Make a butterfly, dinosaur or rocket ship-shaped cake, plus ice cream cone cupcakes.
Fun Festive Cakes»
Turn an ordinary boxed cake mix into something extraordinary with these homemade frostings.
Homemade Frosting Recipes»
Winners of the Simple & Delicious "Fun Foods Contest" from the March/April 2009 issue.
Fun Food Contest Photo Gallery»
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