Cupcakes vs. cakes

rhawn · June 2011

I'm a DYI bride. Which would be cheeper. cakes or cupcakes? which would be less of of a hassle.

OH! What about cupcakes for the bride cake and brownies for the groom cakes?

Sierra4 · June 2011

I wouldn't limit yourself to even cake or cupcakes. The possibilities are endless!

Originally we were just going to have peanutbutter balls made by my mother-in-law. We are still doing those. But added a small cake, that is funky cool, modern, and affordable (since DIY wasn't an option for me in this area, lol). And a pan of our favorite homemade banana pudding from a small local restsurant.
I am honestly very excited about our dessert choices, and our selection on regular food too!

If you have already narrowed down to wanting cake for sure.

I vote cupcakes! I think you will have a blast making them, they are cute and fun! Plus yummy! Also, not sure how you are at cake baking and decorating but I am confident in even my own cupcake skills (my baking and cooking skills are very mediocore or less) and I think the cosmetic results for cupcakes are usually better than that of a cake, unless the baker is skilled.

I personally LOVE brownies and this will be a unique dessert addition for the grooms cake!

ajroark · June 2011

I love the cupcakes and brownies idea! I don't think there is a big cost difference between cake and cupcakes since they're the same ingredients, but cupcakes would be easier and less messy.

Frogger5 · June 2011

Agree with PP - cupcakes have a better chance of looking good - and if you mess up on some of them, the whole thing isn't ruined (which could actually happen with a cake, in my nightmares, at least!). Just bake some extra!

futurepivko · June 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_cupcakes-vs-cakes?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:4e405a63-31bb-4b12-a795-cece39b5a0a3Post:d287cd28-f211-486e-95a4-f8ec781a02bd">Re: Cupcakes vs. cakes</a>:
[QUOTE]Agree with PP - cupcakes have a better chance of looking good - and if you mess up on some of them, the whole thing isn't ruined (which could actually happen with a cake, in my nightmares, at least!). Just bake some extra!
Posted by Frogger5[/QUOTE]

agree!

HYDROPHILE · June 2011

What about cake pops? They're incredibly easy to make!

You basically bake a 13" x 9" cake, crumble the cake in a large mixing bowl, add 3/4 canister of frosting. Mix it together to make a "dough." Put it in the fridge for awhile so that it's easier to roll. Take out the dough, roll into 2" balls, and put on a cookie sheet. Cover the cookie sheet with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.

Pull them out. Melt chocolate. Dip a solid candy stick (cardboard or plastic - just NOT hollow sticks) tip in chocolate, and stick through the bottom of each ball.

I use a florist foam brick, wrap it in plastic wrap, and I stick the cake pops in it to hold them.

When I get done "sticking" all of the pops, that's when the fun begins. Melt more chocolate, and dip the cake pop in it. Lightly tap off excess. If you want to decorate with sprinkles - go for it.

For weddings, I've dipped some in white and then piped some "dress" decor on it (tiny flowers, etc.) and then I dipped some in white then dark chocolate on either side, piped a bowtie and buttons for a "tuxedo" decor.

To dry them, flip the floral brick over, and put them in to cool and wait for the chocolate to set

Amandarose531 · June 2011

I second cake balls, we LOVE to make them and they're SOO easy to make "gourmet" with toasted nuts and flavor drizzles.

I've also been to a wedding where Pie was all the rage, they had every flavor known to man I swear, given that was an autumn wedding where warm pies are more easily enjoyed imo it just shows that desserts are by no means limited to "wedding cake"

janicejab · June 2011

I think cupcakes would be easier to make too. And a lot easier to transport and set up than cakes. Plus they take less time to bake than a full-sized cake and less time to cool before you can frost them. And I think it would be easier to decorate them- you could put a little candy or a few dragees on them or a swirl of different colored frosting or drizzle chocolate on them to dress them up.

raes19 · June 2011

As someone who has done a fair share of baking and decorating both cakes and cupcakes, I think cupcakes are a huge pain in the ass to do. They take a lot more labor, and that is why most bakeries charge more for cupcakes than a cake with the same number of servings.

031107 · June 2011

So a trial run. Make at small 2 tier cake (that way there isn't too much cake and it doesn't go to waste) and 3 dozen cupcakes. An 8" round and 6" round cake will feed 36 by the industry standard of a 1" x 2" x 4" slice of cake. So that cake will feed the same as 3 dozen cupcakes. Do everything...mixing, baking, icing, cleaning, stacking, decorations...that is the only way you will truely see what is less stressful for you/looks better according to your skill.

Wiscisbliss · June 2011

Maybe I'm weird, but I find cup-cakes harder to make... but I have never made more than a standard 2-layer cake.

Cake, brownies, cupcakes, or pies... As long as you have something sweet your guests will be happy.

rhawn · June 2011

HYDROPHILE, you are scary. My BFF found a recipe for, we call them "cake balls" and we have been practicing making them. I was actually thinking about making a cake ball wedding cake but the only thing that stopped me was worrying that if the table is bumped then I'd loose all my balls on the floor. And I was wondering how in the world am I'm going to put it together AND bring it to the church. I am SO going to test run what you said just so I can know what it looks like.

I don't think I have to worry about wasting cake, as long as I go wednesday night church service. Those people are practically my sweet tooth guinea-pigs.

I'm still liking the brownie idea. If I can play around with cake displays it might be pretty awesome.

amyderrah · June 2011

I think that frosting and decorating a whole bunch of cupcakes would take more time and be messier. Rather than layering a cake what about baking many cakes? I love the look of different size cakes on cake stands of varying heights. It could be easier than trying to layer a large cake. Also, I've heard of the idea of using a single cake at each table as part of the centerpiece.

coleb87 · June 2011

I was also thinking about doing cupcakes vs. cake but when I realized how long it was going to take to frost and decorate 120-150 cupcakes and a nice way to display them I realized cake is way easier. Although some venues charge pp for cake cutting so you may want to look into that if you do go with cupcakes.

ButterflyChickadee · June 2011

I am having the same argument with myself on what option to do. What me and my fiance are doing for a couple we are catering for is I offered to make a sheet cake for them, very cheap on their side, a they buy a smaller wedding cake. A lot of people we know are buying a wedding cake, a smaller one, unique looking, and then when the cake is 'cut', serving it from a sheet cake in the back room...this sounds cheap, but it really make no big difference but in price for the bride and groom's wallet!

I'm thinking big cupcakes, onr for each table, for my wedding, something different, ya know. Still having a hard time finding a place to do this. Any one know let me know please. I live in Georgia.

sojourner73 · June 2011

Cupcakes are usually cheaper than wedding cakes - but it doesn't mean the quality is less. I'm thinking of having cupcakes too. One baker offered cupcakes at $1.50 each, compared to $4 per slice for a cake. We could also have them made with different flavors like some in vanilla, some in chocolate, and so forth - something for everyone and they're so cute

Miracle520 · June 2011

How many cupcakes do you need to make? I'm pretty speeding at decorating but I made about 10 dozen cupcakes for a fundraiser and it took freaking forever. Even with mixing icings during baking sessions. It's a lot of prep and then cool time and then icing. Also after dealing with them for a day and half...I never wanted to see a cupcake again lol So if you want to enjoy the fruits of your labor, it's something to think about.

I think you could make a cake more easily. Just do basic icing and may buy some pretty sugar flowers or stamp out fondant shapes and do something simple. It could be really pretty and not utterly time consuming.

I think brownies are a great idea too. Maybe even some with icing and some plain or with nuts? Also Wilton sells brownie pop molds if you want to do something a little different.

kmmssg · June 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_cupcakes-vs-cakes?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:23Discussion:4e405a63-31bb-4b12-a795-cece39b5a0a3Post:c274e1a3-59a1-499d-8e20-05d561481ea7">Re: Cupcakes vs. cakes</a>:
[QUOTE]I think that frosting and decorating a whole bunch of cupcakes would take more time and be messier. Rather than layering a cake what about baking many cakes? I love the look of different size cakes on cake stands of varying heights. It could be easier than trying to layer a large cake. Also, I've heard of the idea of using a single cake at each table as part of the centerpiece.
Posted by amyderrah[/QUOTE]

I did this for my DD's wedding 2 years ago. Different flavors of cheesecakes and a couple of torted cakes in the back. I can bake a really good cake but I can't decorate for squat. They looked good on the plate, that is all that mattered.

We got a ton of compliments on the dessert table. We rented pedestal cake stands for 3 dollars a piece and had them at varying heights. Looked awesome.

rascal17 · June 2011

It all depends on how many people you plan on feeding and how big you consider a serving. When I make them I get more servings out of a cake then when I make cupcakes. And decorating a cake to feed 100 people is easier than decorating 100 cupcakes. Also think about transportation. Think how much room the cupakes take up in a vehicle compared to a stacked/tiered cake.

HYDROPHILE · June 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_cupcakes-vs-cakes?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:4e405a63-31bb-4b12-a795-cece39b5a0a3Post:f5015196-339c-408e-aef1-a62e2de307da">Re: Cupcakes vs. cakes</a>:
[QUOTE]HYDROPHILE , you are scary. My BFF found a recipe for, we call them "cake balls" and we have been practicing making them. I was actually thinking about making a cake ball wedding cake but the only thing that stopped me was worrying that if the table is bumped then I'd loose all my balls on the floor. And I was wondering how in the world am I'm going to put it together AND bring it to the church. I am SO going to test run what you said just so I can know what it looks like. I don't think I have to worry about wasting cake, as long as I go wednesday night church service. Those people are practically my sweet tooth guinea-pigs. I'm still liking the brownie idea. If I can play around with cake displays it might be pretty awesome.
Posted by rhawn[/QUOTE]

I don't know how a cake ball cake would look, but if you decide to do "pops," you can wrap the tops of each one in little cellophane bags with decorative ribbon to match your colors (or leave them naked.) To display them, you can cover a brick of floral foam (or styrofoam) with decorating fabric, cut tiny criss-crosses in the fabric (I mean TINY) and stick each, er, "stick" down into it. Then what you have is a brick o' balls.

I mean - no one likes free-balling cake balls after a bump to the table! :)

Cupcakes vs. cakes

Re: Cupcakes vs. cakes

Choose Another Board

Search Boards