Sweet 16 Cupcake Ideas
- The ideal sweet sixteen cupcake is decorated to represent the birthday girl's personality.Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images
The classic sweet sixteen birthday party image is one of glamor, womanhood and girlishness. The color pink, sparkles, glitter, gold, makeup and fashion are all symbolic icons of a 16-year-old girl's new stage in life. Cupcakes can be decorated to represent all of these symbols, however, the best decorated cupcake is one that reflects the birthday girl's style, personality and interests, which may or may not fit into the stereotypical sweet sixteen image. - For many girls, a classic sweet sixteen birthday party is all about glamor, and nothing symbolizes glamor more than glittering bling. Edible gold dust, metallic nonpareil sprinkles, gold leaf, and other iridescent edible decorating powders such as pink and purple pearls all fit into the glamorous jewelry theme. Use gold powder and gold leaf on top of chocolate cupcakes and silver powder and nonpareils on vanilla cakes.
- Glitter and gold may not be everyone's style, so when designing cupcakes for a sweet sixteen, get to know the personality of the birthday girl first. If she is a girly-girl, then pink, white and brown may be an ideal color scheme for her cakes. A more subtle personality may prefer Tiffany blue, purple or pale pastels. Mix and match colors with frosting, edible glitter and colored candies.
- Cupcakes can be personalized for any event with fondant cutouts. Fondant is a pliable edible sugar dough with the consistency of modeling clay. It can be colored, shaped and cut into virtually design or shape. Fondant disks with the number 16 or the initials of the birthday girl are popular options, as are detailed cutouts of items such as purses, lipsticks and stilettos.
- Cocktail themed cupcakes are great for girls who have a long way to go before hitting a cocktail lounge, yet want to feel grownup at the same time. Topping cupcakes with candied lemon wedges, clipped straws, cherries and small cocktail umbrellas gives the appearance of a fancy beverage. Incorporating cocktail mixes such as daiquiri, margarita or lemon drop into the frosting gives a boost of flavor and a fun name for the cake.
- Girly cupcake toppers can include any type of candy or small token. Small personal makeup items such as a lipstick, eye shadow, lip gloss or nail polish are popular, as are as are edible items such as marshmallows, chocolate truffles or decorated cookies.
- Not all sixteen year old girls care for makeup, fashion, glitter and pink. If the birthday girl does not fit into the classic anniversary stereotype, consider cupcakes that cater to her interests instead. Soccer themed cupcakes, animals, patterns such as plaid or polka dot rather than themes, her favorite color, her favorite flavor or even simple cakes with her name or initials painted are all possible ideas for a sweet sixteen birthday.
