Monday, February 10, 2014

Valentine's Day Cupcakes

I love cupcakes, but lets be fair who doesn't. Personally, I prefer them to regular cake because they can be eaten without a plate and a fork (Woo Hoo!! Two less dishes to do!) I'm a fan of the mini cupcake as well because they're adorable and you can eat like three of them to one normal cupcake. I know not all share my enthusiasm for the mini version of something that is already a mini cake ...



but let's just forget about them because these mini cupcakes I made are adorable and perfect for your special someone this Valentine's day.

For them I used a cherry chip cake mix and made it up as directed. Then I filled the mini cupcake liners to about 1/2 full and stuck a maraschino cherry in the middle. I made these for a friends birthday so I soaked the cherries in vodka for about three days before I used them. Even after baking they were still pretty strong. 

 

I baked them at 350 for about 15 minutes and then let them to cool. For the frosting I used my family's go to frosting for any cake: cool whip pudding frosting. It is not as sweet as most frosting is and doesn't taste nearly as sugary. The name tells you almost all there is to it to make it. All you need is: 

 - One small box of instant pudding, any flavor even the sugar free.  
 - 1/2 of the milk that is called for on the box of pudding
 - One normal size tub of cool whip

To make it just mix together the pudding and 1/2 of the milk called for on the pudding. Stir until smooth and then stir in the tub of cool whip until it is all incorporated. I used some food coloring to make it a lovely shade of pink and then frost your cupcakes however you see fit. This recipe for frosting will make enough for one box of cake mix. It works for a 9 x 13 cake just as well as it does for a dozen cupcakes or the 5 dozen mini cupcakes like I made. Happy Valentine's Day! Enjoy!