Cupcakes are a delicious treat, but they can get a bit overshadowed beneath a thick layer of icing. Never fear! There are plenty of tasty, creative ways to spruce up your cupcakes without piling on the frosting.

3

Drizzle on some glaze.

  1. Glaze provides the sweetness of frosting without the thickness. Whip up a simple glaze with 1½ cups (173 g) of powdered sugar along with 2 US tbsp (30 mL) of milk and 1 vanilla bean with the seeds removed from the pod.[4] Drizzle the glaze on top of your cupcakes for a simple, sweet, no-nonsense topping.[5]
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5

Drizzle on some caramel sauce.

  1. Caramel glaze provides a richer, more dynamic flavor for your cupcakes. Pour 3 US tbsp (38 g) of caster sugar into a saucepan with a couple spoonfuls of water, stirring the sugar until it dissolves into the water. Then, mix in 3 US tbsp (44 mL) of cream, 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of butter, and a pinch of salt. Turn off the heat and let the sauce cool off, which will help it thicken up. At this point, drizzle the caramel sauce over your cupcakes.[8]
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6

Layer white chocolate and coconut.

  1. Melt a handful of white chocolate chips in the microwave. Spread the melted chocolate over each cupcake in a thin layer. While the chocolate is still wet, dip the cupcakes in a bowl of coconut flakes.[9]
    • You can try this with a variety of tasty toppings, like sprinkles, candy, or cereal.
    • This tastes great with chocolate cupcakes.
7

Spread on peanut butter and Nutella.

  1. Mix equal amounts of Nutella and peanut butter in a bowl. Heat the mixture in the microwave until it’s completely melted. Then, spread the tasty mixture on top of each cupcake.[10]
    • When melted, Nutella and peanut butter acts more like a glaze.
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8

Add chocolate ganache.

  1. Chocolate ganache is a tasty replacement for icing that you can make at home. Add 9 oz (261 g) of chopped, bittersweet chocolate to a bowl. Boil 1  c (240 mL) of heavy cream in a saucepan. Pour the cream over the chocolate, and mix the ingredients together until they’re smooth. Give the ganache several minutes to cool, and then spread it over the tops of your cupcakes.[11]
    • Chocolate ganache is a tasty addition to chocolate cupcakes.[12]
11

Decorate with edible flowers and honey.

  1. Spread a thin layer of honey on top of each cupcake. Then, stick edible flowers on top of the honey, which helps them stay in place. Keep things simple with just 1 edible flower per cupcake, or add multiple flowers to create more colorful confections.[15]
    • For a simpler cupcake, spread honey over the cupcakes and leave it at that.
    • Some edible flowers are borage blossoms, hibiscus, lavender, pansies, and roses.[16]
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About This Article

Janice Tieperman
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Janice is a professional and creative writer who has worked at wikiHow since 2019. With both a B.A. and M.A. in English from East Stroudsburg University, she has a passion for writing a wide variety of content for anyone and everyone. In her free time, you can find her working on a new crochet pattern, listening to true crime podcasts, or tackling a new creative writing project. This article has been viewed 25,548 times.
11 votes - 82%
Co-authors: 5
Updated: August 25, 2021
Views: 25,548
Categories: Featured Articles | Cupcakes
Article SummaryX

To decorate cupcakes without icing, try spreading a dollop of whipped cream over each cupcake instead. Or make a simple glaze by mixing 1½ cups (173 g) of powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of whole milk, and a drop of vanilla extract. You can also melt dark or white chocolate in the microwave for a delicious cupcake topping. If you prefer something with a slightly nuttier flavor, Nutella can be a great choice! Even just shaking some powdered sugar over cupcakes makes a great topping. Peanut butter, marshmallow fluff, and honey are delicious choices too. For a final decorative touch, add sprinkles, chocolate chips, or sliced fruit.

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