New Year's Cupcakes!

Rainbow & Oreo Cupcakes

Happy 2012 everyone! My best friend and I kicked off the new year by making some amazing cupcakes. We were so involved in the whole process that we didn't take many pictures (our apologies!). But, they are very easy to make so let's start with the beautiful Rainbow Cupcake!

All you need is a box of white cake mix (prepared as directed on the box) and some neon food coloring. Grab 4 bowls and divide the prepared cake batter into the bowls then add the food coloring until you have a nice bright batter of colors! Add your cupcake paper liners and start with one color. Just add a small spoonful to cover the bottom layer, then then next color and etc. Have some fun with the colors! Bake as directed and cool. For garnish we used small colored candy dots.

For the frosting we used a pre-made buttercream frosting. There are different ways to make the neat effects when pipping the frosting. We took a few bowls with the white frosting and added the food coloring and then 'painted' the inside of the pipping bag with strips of the colored frosting and then filled up the rest of the bag with the white frosting.  Here is another site about doing this process you can check out: http://www.inkatrinaskitchen.com/2011/10/5-minute-fancy-frosting-giveaway.html

Onto the Oreo cupcakes! These were really easy and super yummy. All you need is a box of Oreos (or President Choice's Eat the Middle First), white cake mix, crushed Oreos or if you have some Oreo crumbs lingering in your pantry. Prepare your white cake mix batter. Add cupcake liners and place a whole Oreo cookie to the bottom of each liner. Pour in the batter (about 2/3 of the way up). Bake as directed and cool.

For the frosting. Again, we used the prepared buttercream icing from the grocery store bakery. We added some crushed up Oreos to the frosting and had some leftover for the garnish. When pipping the icing, be sure to use a round tip because the Oreo chunks need to make it through. For garnish add some Oreo crumbs and of course some more crushed Oreos! The best part of these cupcakes was the whole Oreo cookie at the bottom. I love cupcakes that have a little surprise with them!

I've also hit the 2 year blog-a-versary mark back in December and I'm super excited for some new foods, meals, and baked goods to share! A special thank you to my best friend Somer who is always sending me lots of fun recipes and to my hubby who is always showing his appreciation (I love my Kitchen Aid Pro 600 from you... always reminds me of how much you support and love me!) xoxo.

Happy 2012!