Happy Father's Day

I wanted to make something fun for Father's Day. Jay and I got a present for my dad and everything, but every girl knows something edible is what your Dad will remember most. I decided to try out a new cupcake recipe I found online through Martha Stewart. I'm not a huge Martha fan...but that girl can make some cupcakes. I decided to go with a vanilla cupcake and cream cheese icing. This was only because Martha's Buttercream frosting is a major fail! Very complicated and tastes horrible. I will post both recipes down below in case you are feeling creative this week!

I decided to go with the muffin pan that makes a little bit bigger cupcake than normal. I think they are easier to and more fun to decorate this way!

I decorated them two different ways. The first way was made to look like the beach. I colored them a light brown and added brown sugar to the top to make it look like sand.

I the other cupcakes I made the icing a teal blue and added blue sprinkles to make them shiny. Then added Swedish Fish (which you can only find at Target anymore...ask Jay we looked at 3 places ; )

I added the umbrellas to the beach cupcakes to give them more of a beach feel! I absolutely love these!

All of the decorated cupcakes together on the counter! Don't you just feel beachy??

Recipes:

Vanilla Cupcakes (makes 3 dozen):  From Martha Stewart
4 1/2 c. flour
2 1/4 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 cup and 2 tbsp unsalted butter (room temp)
2 1/4 c sugar
6 large eggs
1 tbsp vanilla
1 1/4 c milk

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
2. In a seperate bowl, beat butter and sugar on medium-high until pale and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Mix the egss, one at a time, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, until well blended. Mix in vanilla.
3. Add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with milk in 2 batches, beating until combined after each. Divide batter evenly among tins. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until tops spring back when lightly touched, about 20 minutes. Let cool and decorate!

Cream Cheese Frosting (Grandma's Recipe)
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 c butter, softened
2 c sifted confectioner's sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vailla, then gradually stir in the confectioner's sugar. Store in fridge after use.


Happy Decorating!!