Kickoff Cupcakes Recipes

EASY HOMEMADE VANILLA CUPCAKES RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C) and prepare a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
• Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
• Add the butter, sugar, oil and vanilla extract to a large mixer bowl and beat together until light in color and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Do not skimp on the creaming time.
• Now it's time to add the eggs. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until mostly combined after each. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated.
• Add half of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix until mostly combined.
• Slowly add the milk and mix until well combined. The batter will look curdled, but that's ok.
• Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until well combined and smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated. Do not over mix the batter.
• Fill the cupcake liners about 3/4 full and bake for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Remove cupcakes from the oven and place on a cooling rack to cool.
• Add the butter to a large mixer bowl and beat until smooth.
• Carefully pour in about half of the powdered sugar and mix until smooth and well combined.
• Add the vanilla extract and 1-2 tablespoons of the water or milk and the salt to the frosting and mix until well combined.
• Add the remaining powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Add additional milk or water as needed to get the right consistency.
• Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes. I used Ateco tip 844.
• Cupcakes are best when stored well covered for 2-3 days.

KICKOFF CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Special equipment: an ice cream scoop and a small offset spatula
• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with silver foil liners.
• Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the oil, eggs, vinegar, vanilla, coffee and 1 cup water until well blended. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and stir until just incorporated.
• Using an ice cream scoop, divide the batter evenly between the prepared muffin cups, filling each cup halfway. Bake until a wooden pick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Cool the cupcakes in the pans 5 minutes. Remove from the pans and cool completely on a wire cooling rack.
• For the frosting: Put the butter and confectioners' sugar in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat until well combined and smooth. Add a little milk, about 1/4 teaspoon at a time, and beat well after each addition until the frosting reaches a nice spreadable consistency.
• Divide the frosting among 4 bowls. Mix into each the green, brown, yellow or orange food coloring, drop by drop, until you achieve the colors desired.
• Decorate the Cupcakes: Using a small offset spatula, spread the brown and orange frosting over 12 of the cupcakes so that each top is half brown and half orange. Repeat with the 12 remaining cupcakes using the yellow and green frosting. Use the white gel icing to draw a line down the center of each cupcake top, dividing the colors. Then make 3 cross hatch marks across the white line on each to resemble football stitching.

SMALL-BATCH CELEBRATION CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 6 hollows of a standard muffin tin with paper baking cups, skipping every other cup to allow for extra air circulation. Whisk together milk, egg, and vanilla in a liquid measuring cup. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
• Drizzle in butter and beat until crumbly. Slowly beat in milk mixture, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, and beat until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Divide evenly among baking cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
• Bake until light golden and a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes, then remove from tin and let cool completely on a wire rack, about 30 minutes.
• For the Frosting: In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and salt and continue to beat until completely incorporated and frosting is smooth and creamy. Frost cupcakes and decorate with sprinkles; enjoy the same day they're made.