A baking question for you guys, please comment

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I baked some nifty cupcakes tonight for a special friend's birthday, and plan to frost (chocolate!) and top with fresh raspberries (and maybe blueberries) tomorrow. Do you think Fruit Fresh would work for these? For background, see the strawberry uglification issue from earlier this year. Will the fresh fruits need treatment (seeing as how they are not sliced), or will they hold up in the 2 hours on the way to the party?

Please leave your thoughts in the comments, thanks. And, much appreciated, folks!


:)




Comments

Unknown said…
Can you top when serving? Fruit, particularly fresh and of the berry variety tend to both stain and aren't very stable. Makes a beautiful cupcake though, visually as well as flavour wise!! Jacinta
6/02/2009 5:39 AM
Stephany Benbow said…
No need to worry about berries. At work we leave them naked or just sprinkle them with powdered sugar. They won't ugly-fy since they are whole.
Sounds yummy!
6/02/2009 6:27 AM
the decorated cookie said…
What about topping the fruit right before the party? I'm guessing that means also adding the frosting at the same time so the fruit sticks on top... may be more of a hassle, but buys you time.
6/02/2009 6:55 AM
Eris said…
I love fresh fruits on cakes *-* I think they may work in cupcakes. I think the fruits will give them sofistication... Is not all about candies and sprikles and sugar XD And, raspberries and chocolate match perfectly *-* I love them both

Em... I find your blog a time ago and keep looking at it, but I had never posted until now, I hope you don't mind =)
6/02/2009 7:34 AM
Becky said…
The raspberries and blueberries should be just fine if they're very fresh and not cut or otherwise altered. If you were making these cupcakes today and not delivering them for several days I'd be concerned, but given your time span everything will probably look and taste great! If it's super humid you may want to add the raspberries and blueberries once you arrive at the party, but really, it should be ok. Happy baking!
6/02/2009 8:08 AM
Kim said…
I don't think they'd hold up well in transit. Maybe if you had a way to keep them refrigerated? Or you could put the fruit on them when you get there? I think that's why bakeries put a glaze on top of their fruit tarts....but I do think it'd be yummy :-)
6/02/2009 8:09 AM
Tashva said…
I would think that so long as the fruit is in good shape to begin with, it should hold up fine for a couple hours. Obviously if it gets smooshed or anything, it's not going to hold up as well, but whole fruit should be fine.
6/02/2009 8:11 AM
Sugar Daze said…
Hi Stacie! These sound so good - love the raspberry and chocolate combo! Since the fruit is not cut, it should hold up okay as is. Just be sure to dry them real well after you have rinsed them. I do think however that they will look prettier if glazed. I don't know what Fruit Fresh is, and I also know you are vegan so some products are automatically out, but I will go back to my advice from the strawberries which would be to brush them very lightly with some heated and then cooled jelly/jam to give them a nice shine. Pls. make sure to let us know how you made out!
6/02/2009 8:15 AM
Seattle MFT said…
I don't think you need Fruit Fresh for those if its only going to be 2 hours. However, it never hurts!
6/02/2009 8:48 AM
Talia said…
I just topped some cupcakes with fresh raspberries Sunday night and they were fine in the fridge overnight and looked great at the event on Monday. You should be okay with whole fruit, but if you want to get fancy you could brush them with a little egg white and roll them in sugar first.
6/02/2009 9:37 AM
peachfish said…
Nah, you don[t need the fruit fresh. Raspberries and blueberries will look just fine, even overnight.
6/02/2009 9:37 AM
The Dixon Gang said…
I have been using tons of fresh raspberries lately and they are fine. I just stick the whole berry to the top of the cupcake and they hold up amazingly well :) The grocery stores leave whole fresh berries sitting on without refrigeration for hours, why not on top of a cupcake?
6/02/2009 10:11 AM
Susan from Dragonmoon Tea Co. said…
I would not suggest putting Fruit Fresh on the berries. Berries, especially raspberries, hold up the best with the least amount of treatment. That's why you don't wash berries before storing. They will last just fine for the 2 hours and however long the party is. I often use them as decorative items in catering and they travel just fine.
Susan from Dragonmoon Tea Co
6/02/2009 10:12 AM
Jen H said…
Raspberries or blueberries should be fine. I made cupcakes that I topped with a raspberry last month and it held up all day. Check it out here http://piccantedolce.blogspot.com/2009/05/uma-cupcakes.html
6/02/2009 10:44 AM
Kamber said…
They should be just fine, provided that they are completely dry when you put them atop the cupcakes:-) If they are wet, you risk bleeding. And don't use any berries that are broken or you will have the same problem. I use whole berries on the outside of our white wedding cakes all the time and have never had a problem yet! Good luck!
6/02/2009 11:03 AM
sarah said…
Based on my experience I agree the raspberries and blueberries will hold up fine, especially if your trunk (if that is how you are transporting them) is air conditioned or otherwise does not get warm. Depending on the overall look of the cupcakes,a glaze or sugar coat would be beautiful (and add a nice textural contrast).
6/02/2009 11:13 AM
Anonymous said…
they will hold up... just make sure you clean them well in advance so they aren't wet when you top the cupcake... i've never had a problem with berries if it's the same day.. even to the next
6/02/2009 11:27 AM
Caronae said…
I have never used any kind of product on cupcake fruit toppers, but my experience with raspberries has always been good. A few weeks ago I made a chocolate/chocolate cupcake and put a single raspberry on top, and the raspberries stayed fresh like that for about five days!
6/02/2009 3:33 PM
Stacie Joy said…
Thank you guys!! You were all correct -- the blueberries and raspberries were just fine. No Fruit Fresh (or anything else) was needed. Mission: Berry-topped cupcake, a success.
6/03/2009 12:41 AM
deanna said…
I know you've already finished with the blueberry/raspberry cupcakes, but thought I could lend a hint your way anyway. Next time, try using clear piping gel. It's a trick a lot of professional bakeries use when using fresh fruit on cakes/cupcakes and they have to sit in a display case for possibly a long while (can you believe that!!!) Anyways, to Glaze Fruit and Baked Goods: Mix two parts gel with one part water. Mix until both ingredients are well incorporated . At this point you can either add fruit and stir until fruit is thoroughly covered, or paint on with a paintbrush. The glaze helps seal in the natural juices so it will look & stay fresher longer.
Hope this helps you out next time.
6/03/2009 3:51 AM
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