Vanilla Funfetti Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

For the Owls, just make the frosting peak up for the ears (doing by hand). For the mummies, you will need a pastry bag and a tip to apply the mummie frosting.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Cupcakes

Servings:

Author: Hip Foodie Mom

Ingredients

FOR THE CUPCAKES:

3 cups cake flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks 8 ounces unsalted butter, very soft
1 tablespoon vanilla
4 large eggs at room temperature
1 cup whole milk
1/4 cup Sprinkles any kind

FOR THE Vanilla Buttercream FROSTING:

2 sticks 8 ounces unsalted butter, very soft
4-6 cups confectioners sugar
1/4 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

FOR THE DECORATIONS/TOPPINGS:

Oreo cookies you're only using the side with the creme filling
Reeses pieces
Candy corn
Black icing for the mummies
Candy eyes

Instructions

FOR THE CAKE:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line your cupcake tin with cupcakes holders and set aside.
Mix all of the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Add the softened butter and vanilla, mix until the batter resembles course sand. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well with each new addition. Add the milk, and mix well. Lastly, if making funfetti cupcakes, pour in the sprinkles and mix by hand, gently.
Spoon the cake batter into the cupcake liners (filling about 1/2 way each) and bake for about 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely, and then frost.

FOR THE FROSTING:

Using a stand mixer, beat the butter and confectioners sugar together (adding about 1/2 cup of sugar at a time until it has reached your desired sweetness and texture). Slowly mix in the milk (you may only need 1/8 cup) and vanilla extract, beating until slightly stiff and well combined (for about 3 minutes). Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes and then frost the cooled cupcakes.

FOR THE DECORATIONS:

Now, decorate!! And have fun. . and let the kids help too!
For the owls, put on the frosting, and make the frosting peak up for the ears (I used a butter knife). Then, apply the oreo cookies (you are only using the side with the creme filling) and place on the Reeses pieces for the eyes and nose!
For the monsters, put on the frosting, apply the candy corn and then the candy eye balls.
For the mummies, put on the black icing first and spread. Then, using a pastry bag and flat tip, apply the frosting, line by line. Lastly, put on the candy eye balls.

Vanilla cupcake recipe adapted from Ashley over at Baker by Nature, love her blog!

For the Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, I used Alice’s over at Sweet Savory Life. In my mind, there’s no way to make this frosting any better, so I didn’t change a thing! Check it out!

For my Chocolate Owl, you might be wondering what I used for his eyes. . if you’re familiar with Sprinkles Cupcakes, I had a package of their candy toppers on hand, so used some of those for my chocolate owl’s eyes!

Cupcakes, cupcakes and more cupcakes!!!