These cupcakes are the best for school parties and Easter brunches! Let the kids get creative and pipe their own flowers. If you're short on time or don't want to make the cupcakes from scratch, grab a box of cupcake mix to use instead. ( premade cupcake icing won't work as well in piping bags)
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
Cupcakes
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk, or plain kefir, room temperature
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt. Set flour mix aside.
In a separate bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy, scraping down the bowl as needed.
Add eggs one at a time, add vanilla and beat to combine.
Add the flour mixture and buttermilk. Mix until batter is smooth.
Divide the batter evenly into lined cupcake pan, filling 2/3 full.
Bake for 20-23 minutes at 350 °F, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let cool in the pan for 7 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and cool to room temperature before frosting.
Frosting
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks or ½ pound), softened
3-4 cups SIFTED confectioners sugar
¼ teaspoon table salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Up to 4 tablespoons heavy cream, half and half, or milk (heavy cream is best)
Directions
Beat the softened butter for a 1 minute with a mixer using the paddle attachment on medium speed.
Add 3 cups of powdered sugar and mix on the lowest speed until the sugar has been combined with the butter.
Increase mixer speed to medium and add the vanilla extract, salt, and 2 tablespoons of cream and beat for 2-3 minutes until fluffy
If your frosting needs a more stiff consistency, add remaining sugar. If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add remaining cream 1 tablespoons at a time.
Divide in to individual bowls and add 3-7 drops of food coloring.
Fill piping bags with various decorating tips and icing.
Decorate cupcakes with flowers.
