Cake decorating - what do I need?

[AnnieW625]

FWIW, we swear by Betty Crocker's cake mixes in our family, it's as close to bakery as we can get. We get soo many compliments on them; people think they are made from scratch, and I think they taste better than the famous Magnolia Bakery recipe.

This year this is what I am thinking of doing for DD's party, birthday candle cupcakes (except I'll cut straws in place of the colored food straws used in the recipe):
http://www.parents.com/recipe/desser...equestid=69257

I may not go as fancy with the icing as I am not very inept with pastry bags, I really need to do a trial run with the frosting though as I have never used marshmallow fluff in frosting before and would be afraid it wouldn't look right if it was just iced regularly.

DD really wanted Dora cupcakes she saw in a filler on Nick Jr., but I can't find the recipe online .

[mctlaw]

Citymama,

Just FYI, I replied to your question in my thread.

[kijip]

I have used Wilton pans for 3 of the 5 years I have made a cake. That makes it easier for people, like me, who don't have a lot of experience. You can get a kit from a craft store or you can buy a plastic tip and smack it on the tubes of deco-icing at the regular grocery stores.

Here are the 2 that I have done without Wilton pans:





Plus a car, Big Bird and Wall*e the Robot from the Wilton pans.