Party Cupcakes

Yellow Cupcakes

*1 1/2 cups Sugar
*3/4 cup Butter, room temperature
*3 Eggs, room temperature, add one at a time
*2 teaspoons vanilla
*1 1/4 cups 1 percent low-fat Milk
*1/2 teaspoon Salt
*2 1/2 cups All-purpose Flour
*2 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder
*Colorful Cupcake Cups
*Muffin Tins
*Cotton Candy and lollipop sticks, if desired, please note that if adding the Cotton Candy it needs to be added just before serving for best results.

Pre-heat oven 350* F.
Makes about 24 cupcakes
Bake: 18-22 minutes

Cream together the following ingredients in an electric stand mixer on medium speed; Butter, vanilla and add sugar gradually. Then add one egg at a time. Scrap sides of mixing bowl as needed.

Slowly add milk and flour with baking powder adding to creamed mixture, alternating each. Mix just until combined.

Line muffin tins with cupcake liners and fill 3/4 full with yellow cupcake batter. (We place batter filled muffin tins on a half baking sheet for even baking of the cupcakes.)

Cupcakes are done when toothpick comes out clean. Remove the cupcakes from the oven and allow to cool and frost with Butter Frosting.

Butter Frosting

Makes about 4 1/2 cups

*3/4 cup Butter, room temperature
*Approximately 8 cups Powdered Sugar or 2 pounds
*1/3 cup 1 percent low-fat Milk, add more if needed
*2 teaspoons Vanilla
Pinch of salt if needed
*Food Coloring, used McCormick Neon Colors

In electric stand mixer combine butter, powdered sugar and vanilla. Slowly add milk until desired spreading or piping consistency.

When making the colorful stripped butter frosting, divided made frosting into four bowls, about one cup in each and add as many drops of coloring to each bowl making colors desired.

If using pastry bag, cut off tip of the bag at the point, about 1 inch across, above bag tip. Now for piping frosting, place a spoon full of each color in each bag trying to keep each color close to the sides, inside bag, now twist top of pastry bag and pipe in a circular motion starting on the outside of the cupcake and pipe in towards the center of cupcake and pull up at the end for a nice frosting tip on top or if desired or press down frosting tip with wet a finger.

**Yellow Cupcake and Butter Frosting recipes adapted from Better Homes and Gardens, Cupcakes.