Nesting Baby-Bluebird Cupcakes

Name: Nesting Baby-Bluebird Cupcakes
Yield: Makes 1 dozen
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups shredded coconut (about 5 ounces); Miniature Vanilla Cupcakes; Chocolate Buttercream; Yellow and light-blue food coloring

A trio of newborn birds snuggles in a cozy nest of toasted, shredded coconut on top of these picture-perfect cupcakes.

Source: Martha Stewart Baby, Spring 2001

Makes 1 dozen

Yield

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups shredded coconut (about 5 ounces)
Miniature Vanilla Cupcakes
Chocolate Buttercream
Yellow and light-blue food coloring

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread coconut on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until light brown, 8 to 10 minutes, rotating pan once. Set aside to cool.
2. Lightly frost cupcakes with 1 cup chocolate buttercream; set aside. Tint 2 tablespoons reserved buttercream pale yellow; place in a pastry bag fitted with a #349 Ateco leaf tip; set aside. Tint remaining buttercream light blue; place in a pastry bag fitted with a #11 Ateco plain round tip, and pipe three bluebird heads, 3/4 inch in diameter, onto each cupcake. Using leaf tip, pipe yellow beaks. With a toothpick, add melted-chocolate eyes. Form each nest with 2 tablespoons toasted coconut.

Cook's Notes

When preparing the chocolate buttercream frosting, reserve 1 1/2 cups buttercream and 1 teaspoon melted chocolate.

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Reviews

172

How would you rate this recipe?

172

cubycuk

5 JUL, 2013

A very yummy post telling the methods to make a cupcake.There are many types of cupcakes but bluebird is a variety I am knowing for the first time.It is very detailed method of preparing cup cakes which tells all the details in a very precise manner. www.fitnesshealthpros.com
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Maris_Cakes

4 MAY, 2010

I really enjoy each day I visit your site. These cupcakes are so adorable. I will definitely do these. Great idea!
Reply
JennyinSD

30 NOV, 2008

But don't fear if it looks "curdly". Keep whipping it, and it will eventually get to the consistency it should be. And the taste is heavenly. So buttery and light, and in my opinion, so much better than a powdered sugar-based buttercream.
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JennyinSD

30 NOV, 2008

I can't speak to the cake portion of this recipe, but I can speak to this buttercream recipe. I LOVE this buttercream recipe, and I am only a moderately experienced baker. However, I have had the cottage-cheese like consistency problem that cynbin mentioned. Here is the trick: make sure your egg whites have cooled enough before you add the butter. Don't have your water be boiling, just simmering, and then whip the egg whites long enough to get the temperature down to tepid at best.
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MS10571942

5 OCT, 2008

Thank heavens I had the sense to test this recipe a month before a baby shower where I planned to serve them. Love the look on the website! The cupcake recipe is not only "plain", it is a very strange sort of glutenous consistency and unlike any cupcake I have ever seen or tasted. I seriously would not consider serving it even to family let alone at a party. Followed the cake and buttercream frosting recipes precisely, and am an experienced cook. The frosting was disappointing also -- tends to separate
Reply
bobblebee

5 AUG, 2008

such a cute idea! it definitely is a bit more work to pipe all the different colors but the result is adorable. tastewise, its a bit plain.
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bobblebee

5 AUG, 2008

such a cute idea! it definitely is a bit more work to pipe all the different colors but the result is adorable. tastewise, its a bit plain.
Reply
TartaTart

24 JUN, 2008

These are amazing when done right. If you are not a cake decorator, I would not try them. They take a long time, but are totally adorable.
Reply
MS10843995

9 APR, 2008

Thanks for fixing this web site. I will now be trying this recipe.
Reply
MommaDuck1

8 APR, 2008

Please fix the print recipe - the page comes up blank - Thank you
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