Cupcake Ornaments

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Yield:
3 dozen

Arrange these around an evergreen branch or platter, and set it out for a special meal or holiday party for an extra dash of festive cheer.

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

  • 1 ½ cups cake flour (not self-rising), sifted

  • ½ teaspoon baking powder

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • ½ teaspoon pure almond extract

  • ½ cup nonfat buttermilk

For the butter glaze and decorating:

Directions

To make the cupcakes:

  1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line three 12-holed mini-muffin tins with baking cups, and set aside. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

  2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, then the vanilla and almond extracts.

  3. With mixer on low speed, add one-third of the reserved flour mixture, and mix until combined. Add 1/4 cup buttermilk; combine. Add another third of flour mixture, then the remaining 1/4 cup buttermilk. Add the last third of flour, and mix until smooth.

  4. Transfer batter to a pastry bag fitted with a coupler. Fill each baking cup three-quarters full. Using an offset spatula, carefully smooth the tops. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the middles comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Transfer muffin tins to a wire rack to cool. Remove cupcakes from tins.

To glaze and decorate the cupcakes:

  1. Place 1 cup confectioners' sugar in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Remove pan from heat; immediately pour butter into bowl with sugar. Add 4 teaspoons milk; whisk until smooth. Working quickly, dip the top of each cupcake into glaze, and place cupcake right-side up on wire rack.

  2. Repeat step one; glaze remaining cupcakes.

  3. Allow glaze to set, about 20 minutes. Using a pastry bag fitted with a plain writing tip and filled with royal icing, decorate.

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