Make It Easy, Cupcake!: Fabulously Fun Creations in 4 Simple Steps

by Karen Tack, Alan Richardson

From the bestselling authors of Hello, Cupcake! and Cake My Day! comes a collection of brand new, completely irresistible cupcake designs—all of which can be made in just 4 steps!

Let Karen Tack and Alan Richardson show you how to make the most inventive cupcakes—for any imaginable occasion—using easy, everyday ingredients (and tools) from your own pantry or grocery store. The 100+ recipes in Make it Easy, Cupcake will allow you to transform marshmallows into blooming daffodils and wafer cookies into airplane wings, use jelly beans for dragonflies and chocolate cookies as bat wings, and countless other ideas for creative cupcake confections. . . all in four easy steps.

Start with a batch of plain cupcakes (made from scratch or store-bought) and follow the authors' illustrated instructions for decoration. Each recipe includes a complete list of ingredients and simple HOW-TOs along with color photos illustrating each step. From baby buggies to hot-air balloons, gingerbread men to the Loch Ness Monster, this is the go-to resource for the most creative, crowd-pleasing cupcakes ideas of all time. Enjoy!

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Crafts, Food

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 19, 2018

About the author

Karen Tack is the coauthor of the New York Times best-selling Hello, Cupcake! She is a cooking teacher and a food stylist and has created cupcakes and other desserts for the covers of many of America's top magazines, including Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Cook's, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Woman's Day, Martha Stewart Living, Parents, Real Simple, Family Fun, and All You.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start with a disclaimer: I don't actually intend to make any of these cupcakes; I just enjoy seeing the many creative ways to decorate cupcakes. That being said, the delicious looking finished products along with the great visual instructions will inspire you to try your own luck at creating such fantastic treats.

There are so many original ideas, and even some outside of the box ideas like the 4 different styles of cupcakes that represent a backyard bbq, or the crabby crab and oysters with pearls. Two other favorite themes were the strawberry ballerinas and marshmallow swans (representing Swan Lake), and the delivery storks, marshmallow baby bundles, and baby buggies (perfect for a baby shower).

Each cupcake design guide starts with a nice 2 page photo spread of the finished product. The next page has the ingredient list and assembly instructions, with the facing page showing the decorating instructions visually. That is the real strength of this book -- the step-by-step directions detailed in text with accompanying descriptive pictures. The pictures really help the decorator to see and understand what is meant by each written step. I came away from this decorating guide with the certainty that I could make (most of) these with (relative) ease.

If you enjoy creating edible art then pick up this delightful cupcake decorating manual to make your next special occasion truly over the top.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Make It Easy, Cupcake: Fabulously Fun Creations in 4 Simple Steps: Sample Pages


I Picked Up This Book Because: To feed my baking addiction.

I didn’t realize I was only receiving sample pages when I requested this book from Netgalley, silly me for not reading the full title. While I think this is probably a great book the version I received has some formatting issues that make it hard to follow. The ingredients list seem to be mixed into the text and the pictures seem to be behind the instructions. Once I figured this out I could look at the picture then go back to the instructions, weed out the ingredient lines and it all made sense. I love the ideas highlighted in this portion. The cookout/BBQ cupcakes are so cute and so inspired. I would love to give some of these designs a try in the future.

The Random Thoughts:


3 Stars

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great cupcake book for both beginners and experts. As an avid baker, I'm always looking for new ideas and this book had them. I loved how they made petals out of melting wafers. So cute and so easy. And that best describes every cupcake idea in this book. What I really liked was that the designs are easy enough for kids to easily assist. The title says it all. I would recommend this to all bakers.
Thank you #NetGalley for this advanced reading copy
#MakeItEasyCupcake
#NetGalley

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has some cute ideas for cupcakes. I actually found one in this book that I'd be willing to give a try. I like the step by step directions and pictures to go with the idea. I wish there were more ideas in this book. I'd recommend it.

[Ligaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is like a graphic novel for cupcake decorating! The 4 illustrated step-by-steps give plenty of information on how to assemble each amazing design, but written text also explains what one needs to do. These decorations are wild and unlike anything I've seen! The use of candies, cookies, and other baked goods as decorative elements is genius. My daughter commented that these aren't cupcakes for adults because the flavor profiles are weird but I wouldn't refuse if someone gave me one. I won't be recreating anything from this book specifically, but it certainly does spark ideas!

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know if I have the patience to make any of these cupcakes but the directions are easy and the creations are unique and creative. BBQ cupcakes that look like baked beans anyone? (Coated jelly beans)

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just pure fun. I didn't make any but enjoyed looking at the ingenious use of confections.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to try the Pink Unicorn, the Lucky Kitty, and the Pretzel Skeleton cupcake recipes.

[AnnMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to follow and some cute ideas ranging in skill level (imo) from super easy to challenging.

[Shawn L’s Book Notes & Quotes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the name of this book, and the easy to follow labeled pictures, it is quite possible that your cupcakes will come out looking more like mine than the beautiful photos in the book. Pics to come if I can figure out how to post them here.
For anyone attempting to make one of the recipes from this book, heed my advice and make sure to use the exact products called for. For me, that was a difficult task, as many of the decorative ingredients aren’t available in France.
Another one of the ways I now see that I went wrong was in the size of the cupcake. Make sure yours are big enough!!
Really a cute book, and it looks so easy. Even if the end product wasn’t what I was hoping for, it was a great inspiration and I enjoyed trying.

[Lynndell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to decorate for all DIY-ers!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review Make It Easy, Cupcake! by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson!
You know with these authors, the cupcake creations will be nothing short of astounding! Cupcakes made as easy as possible, with cookies and other edible ingredients, turn out adorable and fun! The cherry blossom cupcakes set together beautifully to make a cherry blossom tree, ready to be disassembled by hungry cupcake eaters. Football players, droids, ballerinas and swans are just some of the decadently decorated cupcakes found within the pages of this book. These cleverly designed desserts are almost too cute or too pretty to eat! 5 stars!

[Samantha (Booktiamo) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes hard looking cupcake designs so easy! Great simple ways to make your cupcakes stand out. Whether it’s for a child’s party

[Melinda Anders · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book with great instructions and illustrations on how to make decorated cupcakes. Even a beginner would be able to use this book and make cute cupcakes without any problems. It gives you a list of the items that will be needed to decorate and how to apply them to the cupcake.

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the review copy I found the this to be a very modern and imaginative look at cake decoration and themes. Perfect from any age group and function. Very well illustrated and explained. It seems to have easy to make decorations. I can only speak of the section I have seem, not the whole book, but if it follows through as it begins, it should be a fabulous book

[Ailyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

First you still need to make that cupcake! Then you need the extra ingredients.

While it is easy enough in instructions, I think/ believe that reality that this looks not all that simple will hit if you do not know what you are doing. But if you are pretty good with your decorating skills, this book may add into your quick and easy ideas to presenting pretty food at a party.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you seen the trend where you make food look like something else, or some other type of food? This book will teach you how to do that. Cupcakes that look like pulled pork sandwich anyone? The instructions are so each. They use various things covered in frosting for various elements. Not unusual to see are bread sticks, marshmallows and mini donuts. Such a creative book. I think I might just make some for Easter.

[Sue Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's very clear that this is a sample of the title, and I'm still very pleased that I was chosen by Net Galley and the publisher to receive an advance peek. This book is fun, well done, and has recipes I'm not only anxious to try, but also think I could pull off.
I love a cookbook that takes fun and ease into account, and this one did not disappoint.