Patriotic Red, White & Blue Cupcake Recipe

• 1 box of french vanilla cake mix
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) of softened unsalted sweet cream butter
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla bean paste

Frosting Ingredients: 

• 1 cup unsalted sweet cream butter, softened
• 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3-5 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• Blue and red food coloring
• Patriotic sprinkles

Required Tools:

• Cupcake liners
• Cupcake pan
• Piping bag
• Medium star tip for piping bag
• 3 bowls for blending frosting colors

-Preheat oven to 350 and line cupcake pan with the liners.
-In a medium bowl, combine the cake mix, butter, milk, and vanilla bean pasta and mix until combined.
-Using a medium ice cream scoop, scoop the batter into the cupcake liners and fill about 3/4 of the way full.
-Bake in the oven for about 21 minutes.
-Pull out and place on the side to cool.

Frosting Directions:

-Using a standing mixer, combine all ingredients except the food coloring into the bowl and mix on medium speed.
-If your frosting starts looking like powdery rocks, add another tablespoon of heavy whipping cream.
-Mix until you see creamy stiffed peaks.
-Separate the frosting into three bowls.
-Add the red food dye into one bowl.
-Add the blue food dye into the second bowl.
-Leave the third bowl white.
-Fit the star tip into the piping bag and place the bag inside the cup, pulling the bag over the cups edge.

-Using a spoon, scoop some of the red icing and put it on 1/3 part of the piping bag.
-Repeat with the blue and white frosting.

-Twist the top of the piping bag and squeeze the frosting down.
-Take your cooled cupcake and frost it. Top with star or sprinkles right away.