Firecracker Cup Cakes

Cupcakes

Makes 24 cupcakes

*1 box (18.25 Ounces) Cherry Chip Cake Mix, Betty Crocker or your favorite cake mix, make according to directions on box

*1 can (16 ounce) Stars & Stripes Funfetti White Frosting (I really bought it to use the Stars and Stripe Sprinkles and I used the frosting recipe below for piping on white chocolate butter cream frosting)

White Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting

*1 cup Butter, room temperature

*3 cups Powder Sugar, more if needed for desired consistency for spreading and piping

*1/4 cup Heavy Whipping Cream

*2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

*6 ounces White Chcocolate Melting Wafers, like Ghirardelli or good quality White Chocolate Chips, Melted

pinch of Sea Salt

*
In a stand mixture with paddle attachment on medium speed, cream together the butter and powdered sugar, gradually adding the powdered sugar alternating with the heavy whipping cream. Then add the vanilla, salt and the melted white chocolate/vanilla wafers/chips (Cooled slightly) . Add more powdered sugar, only if needed.

Pipe on the frosting on to cupcake by using a pastry bag with decorating tip Wilton Open Star (4B). I piped a around the outer edge of the cupcake and then added the sprinkles. Then I piped the centers and add the decorated firecrackers.

Firecrackers

* Red Vine Twistettes, short twisted firecrackers

*Airhead Xtremes Rainbow Berry Sweetly Sour Candy, cut for fuses in firecrackers

*Red. White and Blue Sprinkles and Non Periel Sprinkles

*Sweet Tarts Soft & Chewy Ropes, cut for taller fireworks

*White Chcocolate Melting Wafers, like Ghirardelli or White Almond Bark, melted, used to dip in the end of the firecrackers and then sprinkle on red, white and blue sprinkles of you choice. (Careful not to get sprinkles on the bottom of the firecrackers so they will be able to stand up while drying.)

Use Silpat or Parchament paper to set dipped fireworks on to set. After firecrackers have set add the fuse.

Use a tooth pick, skewer or something food safe to poke a hole into the top of the licorice to be able to insert fuse.

I used the twisted firecrakers on the cupcakes and the taller firecrackers for decoration around cupakes.