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Be My Valentine Cupcakes





Be My Valentine Cupcakes

Makes 24

Cupcake Ingredients

*1 box chocolate cake mix or use our homemade Choco-licious Cupcake Recipe that follows.

  1. Line 24 cupcake molds with decorative paper liners. Follow directions on cake mix package to make and bake cupcakes.
  2. Carefully remove cupcake pan from oven and place on a cooling rack for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan and place back on the rack to cool for 30 minutes before frosting and decorating.

Choco-licious Cupcakes

From the Pink Princess Cupcakes Cookbook, Barbara Beery

Makes 20 to 24

Ingredients

  • 11/2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 11/2 cups superfine granulated sugar
  • 6 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon coconut extract
  • 2 cups self-rising flour
  • 1 cup cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons hot water

Let's Make Cupcakes!

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly spray the inside of each cupcake liner or mold with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with a hand mixer until light and fluffy.
  3. Beat in eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in extracts.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and cocoa powder and then stir into the butter and egg mixture. Add the water and stir together until just blended.
  5. ill each liner or mold one-half to two-thirds full of batter. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until done.
  6. Carefully remove cupcake pan from oven and place on a cooling rack for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan and place back on the rack to cool for 30 minutes before frosting and decorating.

Cookie Cut-out Ingredients

  1. Use one package purchased sugar cookie mix and add ¼ cup Dutch process cocoa to the original recipe. Make and bake according to package directions.
  2. Alternately, ask your favorite bakery to bake-up a batch of unfrosted, undecorated cookies - they are about half the price of frosted and decorated cookies!

Royal Icing & Decorating Ingredients for Cookies

  • 3 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/8 cup warm water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • Pink Paste food coloring
  • Assorted edible food markers

Let's Start Making Icing!

  1. Whisk meringue powder and powdered sugar together in a medium size bowl. Add 1/8 cup warm water adding 1 teaspoon more water at a time until it reaches an easy smooth icing consistency. Stir in vanilla and almond extracts. Stir in food coloring until desired color is achieved. Cover with plastic wrap until ready to use.
  2. Frost each cookie and allow to dry at room temperature for 3-4 hours. In a hurry? Pop the frosted cookies into the freezer on cookie sheets and freeze for about 90 minutes.
  3. Decorate with edible food markers and write a sweet Valentine message to your favorite Valentine!

Frosting and Decorating Ingredients for Cupcakes

*1- 16 ounce can purchased Vanilla Frosting or use our homemade Buttercream Frosting recipe that follows.

Assorted Valentine candies and sprinkles

Buttercream Frosting

  • 4 cups powdered sugar, or more if needed
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup half-and-half or whole milk
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Let's Start Mixing!

  1. Place powdered sugar and salt in a large bowl and mix with a whisk to break apart any lumps.
  2. Add half-and-half or milk and slowly mix with a hand mixer on low.
    Add butter and turn the mixer to high speed. Beat until fluffy. You may need
    to add a little more milk if the mixture is too thick or a little more powdered sugar if the mixture is too thin. Beat in vanilla until well blended. Now you’re ready to frost and decorate!