Instructions

1. Buy detailed and well-made cupcake liners for your cupcakes. These can be found in many specialty pastry stores.

2. Use any mix or recipe for your cupcakes, but fill your cupcake cups approximately 2/3 to ¾ full, depending on the kind of cupcake you are trying to make. Flat cupcakes should be filled about 2/3 of the way up the tin, while cupcakes with domed tops should be about ¾ full.

3. Buy a piping bag with exchangeable tips.

4. Frost your cupcakes after they cool.

5. Fill your piping bag with frosting. Choose a tip. Star tips can be used to make delicate rosettes around your cupcake; small writing tips will allow you to write or make small dots.

6. Find a piping pattern that you like on the Internet or in a magazine, and follow the instructions to create your cupcake design.

7. Practice your piping technique on a piece of wax paper before you begin piping onto your cupcakes.

8. Add sprinkles, chocolate discs, or fondant decorations on top of your cupcakes. These can all be found at a pastry store or specialty baking store.