Stacey Dempsey was rushing around Monday afternoon, hurriedly adding supplies to her workshop at the Iberia Parish Library’s Parkview Branch when additional students signed up. 

She whooshed out the door, only to run back in just in time for the well-attended “Decorate a Cupcake” workshop.

“Has anyone ever used a piping bag before?” she asked, glancing around the circle of students. A few hands shot up, mostly from veteran’s of Dempsey’s classes at the library and at her shop, The Frosted Apron.

“Be sure to grab it right in front of the clothespin, just like this,” she reminded the children, aged from 4 to 12. “If you grab it too far forward, it’ll shoot the clothespin off and you’ll have a lava flow of butter cream icing!”

Monday’s workshop, which drew more than 20 eager participants, was one of several Dempsey has held at various libraries across the parish. The Iberia Parish Friends of the Library sponsor the workshops, using proceeds from the volunteer group’s book sales.

Aside from some basic frosting techniques, Dempsey told the children how to color their frosting (“You only need a drop of food coloring to color this whole bag,” she said) and showed them how to use a cupcake, a marshmallow, a food color marker, two pretzel sticks and three mini chocolate chips to create a melted snowman cupcake.

As they worked, the children talked and watched each other’s progress. In some areas of the room, ideas started to take root and spread to adjoining students.

“We have some who are drawing eyelashes on their marshmallows,” said Iberia Parish Library children’s librarian Amy Bernard. “They are using their creativity.”

Across the room, at another table, a debate was going on over how the snowmen’s arms should be placed. 

“I made mine dap!” one especially creative confectionaire laughed.

Overall, the task was accomplished with very little mess and no trauma. After a few minutes, some careful supervision and instruction, all of the participants had their very own cupcakes ready to show off. After the treats were finished, Dempsey had them box up their finished works to take home. She then shared more snowman arms (pretzel sticks) with the kids as Bernard read stories.

Dempsey added that she intends to do more workshops in the coming year with the Friends of the Library as well as her regular sessions at The Frosted Apron on St. Peter Street Street in New Iberia.