Inspired by the upcoming Wicked movie, this is my take on good witch vs bad witch (you decide who is who…). This isn’t something that I normally do, and was originally made more for personal use. But I really loved how they turned out and thought that I had to share!
I loved making these cakes. Trying new things and experimenting to create two completely different decorating styles to represent two opposites. To make these I used my basic vanilla sponge cupcake and topped it with a vanilla buttercream. The cakes are the same flavour, the only difference is the decorating style.
Half of the cupcakes were designed in the style of Glinda. They are coloured to be light pink and decorated with pearl ‘bubble sprinkles’ in a light creamy colours. I used a larger nozzle to create a more frilly appearance which also helps to represent her large dress.
The other half were made green with an tinge of black around the edge in the style of Elphaba. These were made with a smaller piping nozzle. I love the simplicity of this one and was thinking of adding black sprinkles, but decided that it looked perfect as it was.
Pink ‘Glinda’ Cupcake
The first step is to create a vanilla buttercream and roughly separate it evenly between two bowls, setting one aside. Using pink food colouring, slowly start to dye the buttercream until it is a nice light pink. Light – Mid pink is the colour that you’re aiming for. Whenever dying buttercream I recommend going slow and steady adding just a little bit at a time until you are happy with the colour. It’s always easier to add more than take colour away. This creates a nice stiff buttercream which is able to hold its own shape. Once ready, place in your piping bag and pipe on to your cupcake. I decided to use my ‘tall tower’ method to represent the larger dresses that she wears in the movie. For a finishing touch I placed small pearly ball sprinkles, I like to think of them as bubbles, around the cake sporadically.
Green & Black ‘Elphaba’ Cupcakes
This time we’re using the other half of the buttercream. The first step is to dye this green. Remembering to go slow here. When dying buttercream I recommend going slow and steady adding just a little bit at a time until you are happy with the colour. It’s always easier to add more than take colour away. Now, is time to make the black ‘outline’. Take a small amount of the green buttercream out, about 1/2 – 1 teaspoon and place in a separate bowl.
Using food colouring, dye this part black. Prepare your piping bag and set aside. Using the back of your spoon or a butter knife, scrape the black buttercream around the inside of the bag, coating it in a light layer, then place the green buttercream inside the bag. This will create the effect of green buttercream with a black outline. This creates a nice stiff buttercream which is able to hold its own shape. I decided to use my ‘tall tower’ method to represent the witches hat that she wears in the movie.
To colour the buttercream frosting, I used a paste icing food colouring. I would recommend using a paste colour over a runny liquid food colouring as the paste colourings are a lot more vibrant and liquid versions can ruin the consistency of the buttercream. As always, add as much or as little as you like in order to get your desired colour. Give it a good mix between each addition of the food colouring to ensure that you get your desired colour. Here is my simple guide on colouring buttercream frosting with a food colouring paste. I used my ‘tall tower’ technique to ice both styles of cakes to give the icing volume in order to hold more decoration, and help add to the theme of the bakes.
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