chocolate buttercream

Carrot Patch Cupcakes

Posted on April 8, 2017 by Ruthanne

Delicious strawberry “carrots” buried in Oreo buttercream frosting- a perfect cupcake for Easter!

I saw these adorable strawberry carrots online the other day, and imagined them buried in the top of cupcakes for Easter. Ah- soooo fun! Plus a strawberry and chocolate combo is always a winner in my book! These are easy, fun and a perfect way to add carrots to your cupcakes- without actually using carrots 🙂

Here is how we made these cute little treats: (printable recipe here)

INGREDIENTS:

One boxed cake mix (plus oil, water and eggs to make according to package)
One package of Oreo Thins, crushed into crumbs
2 sticks (one cup) of salted butter at room temperature
2 sticks (one cup) of unsalted butter at room temperature
3 cups of powdered sugar
2 teaspoons of vanilla
1 cup of cocoa powder
24 small strawberries
1 package of Wilton’s Candy Melts in orange

DIRECTIONS:

Wash and thoroughly dry 24 strawberries.
Make carrots by melting Candy Melts in microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between until melted and smooth.
Lay parchment paper or wax paper on countertop.
Grasping a strawberry by its stem and leaves, dip it into candy melts, spooning melts as close to stem as possible.
Set covered strawberry on paper to harden.
Once all berries are covered, spoon remaining melts into a zip-top bag and seal. Clip a corner and drizzle lines over the top.

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
Prepare cake mix as directed and divide evenly into 24 cupcake liners in tins.
Bake according to package and cool completely.
Make frosting by adding butters, powdered sugar and vanilla to a large mixing bowl and beating on high until light and fluffy (3-4 minutes).
Add cocoa powder to frosting and beat on high until well- combined.
Use a cookie scoop, or ice cream scoop to place a scoop of frosting on top of each cupcake.
Press this into a bowl of Oreo crumbs, turning the cupcake to make sure all edges are covered.

Press a strawberry “carrot” into the center of each cupcake and spoon a few remaining Oreo crumbs over the bottom of the carrot, to cover it further.

ENJOY!!!!

My thoughts: These are delicious little cupcakes! I really love this chocolate buttercream recipe- plus they are so cute! Note that chocolate covered strawberries only stay fresh for a couple of days before they start to get a little soggy/sticky. These last a little longer because they still have their stems attached- but don’t make these cupcakes WAY in advance. I hope you get a chance to try these!!! Enjoy! ~r

Other Easter treats you might like (click on a photo to see the recipe):

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Posted in Cupcakes and tagged carrot cupcakes, chocolate buttercream, chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate Oreo cupcakes, cupcakes, easter cupcakes, Garden cupcakes, Oreo buttercream, Oreo dirt cupcakes, Oreo dirt cupcakes with carrots, Spring cupcakes, strawberry carrots, strawberry decorated like carrots. Bookmark the permalink.

NYE Ball Drop Cupcakes!

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Ruthanne

Delicious chocolate cupcakes topped with whipped chocolate buttercream and a white chocolate truffle all dressed up for New Year’s Eve! Happy New Year to you!

These fun little cupcakes are an easy and fun way to ring in the New Year. I used Lindt White Chocolate Truffles for the NYE ball, and my very yummiest chocolate buttercream. Aren’t they cute???

Ball Drop Cupcakes4

Here is how we put these fun little party desserts together:

INGREDIENTS:

One boxed chocolate cake mix (or your favorite recipe) plus eggs, water and oil to make according to package.
2 sticks of salted butter, softened
2 sticks of unsalted butter, softened
3 cups of powdered sugar
1/2 cup of cocoa powder
24 Lindt white chocolate truffles
24 decorative picks (I got mine at Target)
24 New Year picks (I got mine at CK products)
Gold food coloring dust (I got mine at CK products)

DIRECTIONS:

Unwrap 24 Lindt truffles and put a decorative pick all the way through each one.
Use a clean (food only) paint brush and some water to paint the truffle gold using the coloring dust. Hold the truffle by the pick and mix dust with water until it forms a thick paste and can be painted onto the truffle. This may take two coats to smooth it out.
Allow painted truffle to dry on a plate or some parchment paper.

Ball Drop Cupcakes1 Ball Drop Cupcakes2

Make cake mix according to box instructions and divide evenly among 24 cupcake liners placed in a cupcake tin.
Bake according to box, and cool completely.
Make frosting by adding softened butter, powdered sugar and cocoa together in a large mixing bowl and beating on high until light and fluffy.
Place frosting in a large zip-top bag fitted with a decorating tip, and pipe frosting on each cooled cupcake.
Decorate with a truffle and with NYE cupcake picks.
Enjoy! (and remind everyone to NOT eat the picks!) 🙂

My thoughts: These are fun and yummy treats!!! It takes a little time to paint the truffles, but they are such a creamy and yummy addition to this cupcake!

So, Happy 2016 to each of you!!! Enjoy!!! ~r