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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Mardi Gras Inspired Cupcakes

While we have never CELEBRATED Mardi Gras {I don't know much about it, it's just not something I grew up around}, I did want to make something FESTIVE. I love the colors; mainly the green, gold, and purple. So I pulled out some BAKING stuff and decided that since lil man LOVES CUPCAKES that I would make him some {it ashame he fell asleep so early, guess he'll have to be surprised in the morning instead}.


I wanted to do something QUICK, so I went in my pantry and saw that I had a box of Valentine's Funfetti CAKE MIX in there {hey, I can work with that}. I just followed the directions for it, divided it in three parts {unevenly I might add} and COLORED each part {green, purple, and yellow}. Then I layered them in a cupcake liner and baked according to the directions on the box {you could do this with your own favorite mix homeade or boxed}.
 
While the CUPCAKES were in the oven BAKING I went on to make the BUTTER CREAM frosting {the recipe follows}. I doubled the frosting from my recipe and then divided it into 2 equal parts {unlike my unequal batter} and colored one half PURPLE and the other half GREEN.

After cooling the cupcakes on my wire rack, I bagged my frosting {using my WILTON disposable bags} and piped it out using two different tips {still needs work}. Then I threw on some green SUGAR crystals and brown sugar cane CRYSTALS {for the gold}.
YUMMY!

{and you could see the pretty colors when you bit into the cupcake}



BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups confectioners sugar (powdered sugar), sifted
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp milk, light cream, or whipping cream {I used whipping cream}
  • Food coloring or gels

Directions:
  • Using a mixer (hand or counter), cream the butter until smooth.
  • Add the vanilla extract.
  • On low speed, gradually beat in the sugar
    (scraping the sides).
  • Add the milk (or cream) and beat on high speed until fluffy
    (3-5 minutes).
  • Add more milk or sugar as needed
    {I added more cream to mine}
     
  • Now you can add the coloring to your frosting,
    bag it, and you're ready to go!

*REMEMBER, I doubled mine
{so if you like frosting like me, double up}.
 
 
 
{Enjoy!}   



Parties I'm LINKED up to {you should check them out}

2 comments:

  1. These look so yummy. Did you put a baby in one?

    megan
    craftycpa.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks! Nope, no baby. I actually just learned about the baby thing from my friend Peggie. She made a king cake and forgot to get a baby so she hid a raisin. lol

    Thank you for visiting, Megan. :)

    ReplyDelete

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