Maypole Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two 6-cup jumbo (1 3/4-inch deep, 4-inch diameter) cupcake pans with baking cups, and set aside. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

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. With the mixer set on medium, add eggs, one at a time, then vanilla.

With the mixer on low speed, add one-third of the reserved flour mixture, and mix until combined. Add 1 cup buttermilk, and mix until combined. Add another third of flour mixture, then the remaining 1/2 cup buttermilk. Add the last third of flour, and mix until smooth.

Divide batter among cups, and bake until golden, about 30 minutes. Transfer muffin tins to a wire rack to cool. Remove cupcakes from tins.

To decorate, frost each cupcake with 3 tablespoons Seven-Minute Frosting. Place sprinkles in a shallow bowl. Fill a small, shallow bowl with cream-colored sprinkles and another with green sprinkles Gently press each frosted cupcake into the sprinkles, rollingthe cake around so the entire surface is coated. Alternate colors so that you have 6 green and 6 cream-colored cupcakes.

For flowers, use a 2 to 2 1/2-inch gum-paste petal cutter to cut petals from the jellied citrus and grapefruit slices -- you will need 72 petals. Using scissors or a sharp knife, cut off the lower one-third of 12 large gumdrops, and discard. Gently press a gumdrop into the center of each cupcake, and arrange 6 jellied petals around each gumdrop to form a flower. Place the cupcakes around the larger cake on the cake stand.