pink cupcakes

[SmileAndNod]

I have been asked by DD to produce some pink cup cakes for a party (not sure if she means actual cake or icing). Any idea how to do this? Is it a case of adding some colour paste to the mixture, or could I flavour with strawberry or raspberry maybe? Am a bit clueless really so any ideas welcome

You can add pink paste to the icing or the actual sponge mix itself, the pastes are miles better than the liquids you get in the shops. Something like this.

Only add a little at a time until you get the shade you want!

Thank you. Will that colour buttercream too? I did find some betty Crocker strawberry icing in a tub in the supermarket, or some in a tin with a nozzle but wondered if they were any good. Have lots to bake, including these cup cakes, so want to make things as easy as possible.

Yes it will only take a tiny amount to colour the buttercream, I use sugarflair colours all the time. Home made butter cream is so much nicer than shop bought - just mix 175 unsalted butter with 300g sifted icing sugar, spoonful at at time with a teaspoon of vanilla paste and then when its all pale and creamy and mixed add a little food paste on the end of a cocktail stick and mix till you get the pink you want. You can make it in advance and keep it in the fridge, just bring it back to room temperature first before using.

Thank you. Have ordered that paste from the link. How long will the cream keep in the fridge?

I also need to make some cream cheese icing for carrot cake, is it the same ratios but with half butter / half cream cheese. I made it before but I think I guessed the quantities. Really need to get a book rather than making it up as I go along

When I make pink cupcakes I generally add some strawberry flavouring too

this kind of thing?

I have discovered that using blood orange juice to make water icing gives a perfect small girl shade of pink