Rainbow Cupcakes

Last weekend, we went to a birthday party for a neighborhood friend. I was asked to bring cupcakes, so I looked for something "fun" for a five year old. I saw a bunch of recipes for rainbow/tie dyed cupcakes, but all called for a yellow or white box mix which I didn't have on hand and wasn't going to run to the store. So, I started searching for "homemade" batter and found these. YUM! Definitely my new "go to" yellow cake recipe. It only makes 12 which is what I was looking for. However, I may stretch it to 14 next time since they rose a lot.









1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup milk

food coloring

sugar sprinkles in red, orange, yellow, green, blue & purple

I made batter as directed and then separated it into 4 bowls & dyed them red, orange, green & blue. (Next time I'll add yellow & purple). Also, next time I will add more food coloring because when they rose, it seemed like they were too light in color. Layer the batter in your muffin tins. (I went in backwards order by accident).

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

I frosted with my favorite butter cream frosting and added a stripe of each sugar color. Needed to frost & decorate one at a time so that the icing would allow sprinkles to stick. Definitely nice that it only made 12 since the decorating was tedious.

PS-We joked that the cupcakes looked like Marty's clown wig in Madagascar 3. (Everybody now...."Afro Circus, Afro Circus, Polka Dot, Polka Dot, Afro Circus...")

Filled Cupcakes

Every now and then, I'll post a "not so simple" recipe IF I feel it is worth the time & effort. This is one such recipe. My mom has been making these for as long as I can remember. Not sure where the recipe originated. (Caution: This recipe makes 36 cupcakes...so be ready to have THAT MANY cupcakes to devour!)

Cake:
3 c flour
2 c sugar
1/2 c cocoa
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 c water
1 c oil (I used canola)
2 T vinegar
2 tsp vanilla

Filling:
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1 egg
1/3 c sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet)

Topping:
1/2 tsp sugar (per each)
1 tsp chopped walnuts (per each)

For cupcakes, sift dry ingredients. Add water, oil, vinegar and vanilla. (Batter will be runny) Fill cupcake papers about 1/2 full.

For filling, beat cream cheese, egg, sugar and salt. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop round teaspoonful of filling on each cupcake.

For topping, top EACH cupcake with 1/2 tsp sugar and 1 tsp chopped walnuts. (I always do half without nuts to please my husband and kiddos)

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

*NOTE: You can make this as a 9 X 13 cake too. Adjust cooking time accordingly.