4th of July Cupcakes

 These festive cupcakes are great for 4th of July... make sure to use transparent (white) cupcake sleeves!

Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ginnerobot/2636149641/

Directions:
After making cake mix (from box or scratch)...

1. Separate the batter into three equal portions.  Leave one portion white.  Add blue food coloring to one portion until it is desired color.   Add red food coloring to one portion until it is desired color.  I used these food coloring gels from Williams Sonoma which gave a really beautiful vibrant color to the batter. 

2.Spread a heaping tablespoon of the blue color batter into the bottom of a cupcake liner in a cupcake pan.  Spoon a heaping tablespoon of the white batter on top of the blue batter.

3.  Spread gently to cover the blue with the white completely.  Next, place a heaping tablespoon of the red batter on top of the white, spreading gently to cover the white completely

NOTE: You can also do the colors by placing the colors side by side.  This way also gave a nice effect.  For this way, I just put a heaping tablespoon of the red on one side of the cupcake liner, then the white in the middle and the blue on the other side  

It makes 24 cupcakes.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the middle comes out clean.  Allow to cool and top with frosting and decorate if desired.


Vanilla Cake recipe:
2 Sticks of butter (1 cup), unsalted, softened
1 1/2 Cups of sugar
1 Tablespoon of baking powder
1/2 Teaspoon of salt
4 large eggs
1 Cup of milk
2 Teaspoons vanilla extract
2 2/3 Cups of flour
Food coloring to dye batter, if desired

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Line two cupcake pans with cupcake liners. 

Beat butter, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl with a mixer on high speed for one minute or until fluffy.  Add eggs; beat two minutes.  Reduce speed to low and beat in milk and vanilla (batter may look curdled).  Then beat in flour until just blended.   If coloring batter, separate into three bowls.  Keep one white.  Add blue food coloring to one and red food coloring to the other until batter becomes desired shade.  Layer  one heaping tablespoon of blue  batter in the bottom of cupcake liner, spread to coat bottom.  Top with one heaping tablespoon of white batter.  Gently spread to cover blue.  Top white with one heaping tablespoon of red.  Gently spread to cover white.  You can also place colors side by side, as above.   Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the middle comes out clean.  Allow to cool.  Frost and decorate. 

Homemade Frosting:
3 3/4 Cups of confectioners sugar
1/2 Cup of butter or margarine, softened
3-4 Tablespoons of milk
1 Teaspoon of vanilla

In a large bowl, with a mixer on low speed, combine confectioners sugar, butter, milk, and vanilla.  Beat at medium speed for one to two minutes until creamy.  If desired, add more milk until frosting is spreading consistency.




Make sure to take photos of your cupcakes and post them on our facebook wall!


~Sizza