| |
Pool Party Cupcakes
by Susie Tilton
Cupcakes are the perfect dessert for a crowd. No slicing, no plates, perfect portions. Mini cupcakes are ideal for small hands and little appetites. A birthday cake I made almost 21 years ago inspired these cupcakes.
Make your favorite cupcakes as directed, regular size or mini. I find an ice cream scoop will measure the batter perfectly into the cupcake liners, and when the cupcakes are all the same size they bake better. For the mini cupcakes, I use a small scoop designed for cookie dough. Allow the cupcakes to cool thoroughly.
You will need a batch of butter cream frosting. I know a can of prepared frosting will work, although you will need to re-whip it to add food color. I love to bake, and boxed cake mix can really be elevated closer to homemade with your own frosting. It's so easy!
Easy Butter Cream Frosting
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 pound powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons milk, plus more as needed
Food coloring in bright blue, and colors of choice for swimsuits
Whip the butter. Turn the mixer down to low and gradually add the powdered sugar. Add the salt, vanilla and the milk. Mix well until smooth. Add more milk and the remainder of the sugar, being careful to not add too much milk. The frosting should be smooth but not runny. You can always add more powdered sugar to thicken it up.
Reserve about 1/2 cup of frosting and tint the remainder "pool blue". I prefer gel food coloring for deep beautiful colors. The remaining 1/2 cup of frosting can be colored one or two colors; they will be used for the swimsuits. The swimsuit frosting should be a little thinner and can be piped in a decorating bag or through a plastic storage bag with the corner clipped.
You will need life preservers for your bears, I recommend name brand gummy Lifesavers or even the plain white wintergreen. The graham bears need to be the original size, be careful not to buy the mini version. I also used pink stick gum that I cut to size for a few rafts. Any bears that go into a lifesaver ring will need his lower torso trimmed off, done easily with a serrated knife. Simply frost the cupcakes with the blue icing, leaving it a little fluffy for waves or smoother for the pool effect. Frost the bikinis and swim trunks on the bears, and place them in the life preserves or on the rafts, use a little frosting for glue if necessary. You can also place bears feet up like they are diving, hands in the air swimming, even on their side like they are swimming along. Any way you decorate them, they'll be delicious and the hit of the summer swim party.
More You Might Like:
Watermelon Poke Cupcakes
Watermelon Cookies
Summer Fruit Kabobs
Wiggly Watermelon
About the Author:
Susie Tilton is a blogger from Tennessee. You can check out her blog at Sweetie Petitti.
|
Win Fun Stuff!
Missed the last couple of newsletters? Haven't visited for a while? This section highlights articles and crafts that have recently been added to FC...
