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    Home » Recipes » Cakes and Cupcakes

    Published: Apr 20, 2013 · Modified: Aug 6, 2017 by alexandra · This post may contain affiliate links

    How to make a Cupcake Cake with Ruffle Frosting

    Jump to Recipe

    As much as I love cake, I don't get a chance to make it that often because, let's face it, I don't need a whole 9-inch cake to eat by myself. I realize that's probably the whole reason why cupcakes were invented, but there's something a little more fun about making cakes, don't you think? You get to stack tiers of cake with layers of frosting in the middle, hone your clumsy improving frosting skills, and decorate to your heart's content until you wind up with a little culinary masterpiece of your own. That's why I was SO excited when I learned about the idea for making a cupcake cake from Stephanie of 52 Kitchen Adventures. Finally, a way to literally have my cake and eat it too, without committing myself to some sort of cake-eaters intervention. :D It's actually super easy to make your own little Cupcake Cake, and the finished product turns out pretty darn cute.

    I mentioned this cupcake cake in my last post for Mini Vanilla Bean Ruffle Cakes, but I wanted to write a separate post with some step-by-step photos, since this method can be used to make any sort of cupcake cake you'd like. So without further ado, let's get started!

    Start with your favorite cupcake (choose one that doesn't fall apart very easily). You'll need two cupcakes for one cupcake cake. Wrap the cupcakes tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for 30 minutes before starting. This will make them easier to work with.

    How to make a Cupcake Cake with Ruffle Frosting | Confessions of a Bright-Eyed Baker

    Slice the dome off the top of the cupcake so the top is flat.

    How to make a Cupcake Cake with Ruffle Frosting | Confessions of a Bright-Eyed Baker

    Flip the cupcake over and use a 2-inch cookie cutter to cut the slanted sides off the cupcake, leaving you with a nice round cupcake layer.

    How to make a Cupcake Cake with Ruffle Frosting | Confessions of a Bright-Eyed Baker

    Repeat steps one and two with a second cupcake so that you have two tiers for your cupcake cake.

    How to make a Cupcake Cake with Ruffle Frosting | Confessions of a Bright-Eyed Baker

    Place one cupcake tier bottom-up on your serving plate and spread a thin layer of frosting on top.

    How to make a Cupcake Cake with Ruffle Frosting | Confessions of a Bright-Eyed Baker

    Place the second cupcake tier, bottom-down, over the first.

    How to make a Cupcake Cake with Ruffle Frosting | Confessions of a Bright-Eyed Baker

    Apply a thin layer of frosting (crumb coat) over the top and sides of the cupcake cake. Refrigerate the cake (covered, if possible) for 30 minutes before continuing.

    How to make a Cupcake Cake with Ruffle Frosting | Confessions of a Bright-Eyed Baker

    Use a thin metal skewer or toothpick to mark vertical guidelines around the sides of the cake for the width of each ruffle. Then, use a piping bag fitted with a petal tip (like Wilton #103 or #104) to pipe ruffles around the sides of the cake. Holding the piping bag at a 45º angle, use a steady left and right motion to pipe the ruffles, working your way up the sides of the cake. End each ruffle by piping slightly over the top of the cake, ending in the same direction with each ruffle.

    How to make a Cupcake Cake with Ruffle Frosting | Confessions of a Bright-Eyed Baker

    Pipe ruffles around the top of the cake, starting at the outermost part and working circularly inwards until you reach the middle. Use a forward and back motion to pipe the ruffles.

    How to make a Cupcake Cake with Ruffle Frosting | Confessions of a Bright-Eyed Baker

    Dig in!

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    How to make a Cupcake Cake with Ruffle Frosting

    How to make a Cupcake Cake with Ruffle Frosting | Confessions of a Bright-Eyed Baker
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    Turn your favorite cupcake into an adorable mini cupcake cake with these simple step-by-step instructions!

    Ingredients

    • Cupcake of choice* (2 cupcakes for one cupcake cake)
    • Frosting of choice*

    You'll also need:

    • offset spatula
    • piping bag with small petal tip (such as Wilton #103 or #104)
    • rotating cake stand (optional)

    Instructions

    1. Wrap cupcakes tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for 30 minutes before starting.
    2. Slice the dome off the top of each cupcake so the tops are flat.
    3. Flip the cupcakes over and use a 2-inch cookie cutter to cut the slanted sides off, leaving you with two round cupcake layers.
    4. Place one cupcake layer bottom-up on your serving plate (set on a rotating cake stand, if possible) and spread a thin layer of frosting on top.
    5. Place the second cupcake layer, bottom-down, over the first.
    6. Apply a thin layer of frosting (crumb coat) over the top and sides of the cupcake cake. Chill cake in the refrigerator for 30 minutes (covered, if possible) before continuing.
    7. Use a thin metal skewer or toothpick to draw vertical guidelines around the sides of the cake for the width of each ruffle. Then, use a piping bag fitted with a petal tip to pipe ruffles around the sides of the cake. Holding the piping bag at a 45º angle, use a steady left and right motion to pipe the ruffles, working your way up the sides of the cake. End each ruffle by piping slightly over the top of the cake, ending in the same direction with each ruffle. 
    8. Pipe ruffles around the top of the cake, starting at the outermost part and working circularly inwards until you reach the middle. Use a forward and back motion to pipe the ruffles.
    9. Dig in!

    Notes

    *I suggest using a cupcake that doesn't fall apart too easily and a frosting that isn't too limp to hold the shape of the ruffles. The cupcake and frosting I used are from this recipe.

    Have you made this recipe?

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    1. Laura (Blogging Over Thyme) says

      April 24, 2013 at 7:48 pm

      Adorable! Love it. I've heard of turning cupcakes into cakes--but more so, in the obvious (less creative) way of literally cutting it in half and making a sandwich of sorts, haha. Love this idea. Would be such a fun bday gift for a friend!

      Reply
      • alexandra says

        April 27, 2013 at 3:07 pm

        Yup, it would be perfect for a birthday gift! And thanks so much! I have a feeling this might be a little easier to eat than smashing two cupcakes together anyway. :)

        Reply
    2. Aya @sukarah says

      April 23, 2013 at 1:14 am

      This has got to be the cutest cupcake I ever saw! The ruffles are so elegant.

      Reply
      • alexandra says

        April 23, 2013 at 1:04 pm

        Thank you Aya!

        Reply
      • alexandra says

        April 27, 2013 at 3:06 pm

        Aww thank you!

        Reply
    3. Ashley says

      April 22, 2013 at 12:02 pm

      I love this! Now I can try this frosting technique without having to make a whole cake - genius!

      Reply
      • alexandra says

        April 23, 2013 at 1:07 pm

        Exactly!!

        Reply
    4. Rosie @ Blueberry Kitchen says

      April 21, 2013 at 11:46 am

      Thanks so much for this tutorial - I love the look of ruffle frosting, I really want to try this!

      Reply
      • alexandra says

        April 23, 2013 at 1:07 pm

        You should try it! I'm not even a huge fan of mini desserts, but I love the mini cake. Plus, the ruffle frosting is so cute. :)

        Reply
    5. Ellen @ Indigo Scones says

      April 21, 2013 at 9:24 am

      Beautiful! I must try this technique sometime.

      Reply
      • alexandra says

        April 23, 2013 at 1:04 pm

        Thanks Ellen:) You should, it's fun!

        Reply
    6. Averie @ Averie Cooks says

      April 20, 2013 at 5:08 pm

      Well isn't this just the most adorable tutorial ever! :)

      Reply
      • alexandra says

        April 20, 2013 at 7:27 pm

        Haha thanks Averie!

        Reply
    7. Laura (Tutti Dolci) says

      April 20, 2013 at 3:52 pm

      Love how simple this is!

      Reply
    8. Rebecca says

      April 20, 2013 at 2:56 pm

      Looove this tutorial :D Thanks a lot for it :)

      Reply
      • alexandra says

        April 20, 2013 at 7:26 pm

        Thanks Rebecca!And you're welcome. :)

        Reply

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