Cupcake Poppers

9 Febraury 2012

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Love the colourful macaroons that are ultra trendy at the moment but not such a fan of macaroons themselves?  (Or, like me, just can’t master the art of making them).  These cupcake poppers are a fabulous alternative.  The recipe below was stolen (no, borrowed!) from the Betty Crocker site, hence the use of Betty Crocker mix, but you could use any basic vanilla cake recipe and add gel food colouring (only use gel colours, otherwise they won’t be as bright) and any good creamy filling (swiss meringue or buttercream maybe), and you’ll get the same effect.  There’s a how-to video here.

Cupcakes
1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® white cake mix (Water, vegetable oil and egg whites called for on cake mix box)
1/4  teaspoon each Betty Crocker® gel food colors (neon pink, neon purple, neon orange, neon green, classic blue)


Frosting
1 1/2 cups marshmallow creme (from specialty stores or Trade Me in New Zealand)
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
Betty Crocker® gel food colors (neon pink, neon purple, neon orange, neon green, classic blue)

Heat oven to 350°F (for all pans). Spray 60 mini muffin cups. Make cake batter as directed on box.

Divide batter among 5 small bowls, about 3/4 cup each. Make 5 different colors of batter by adding 1/4 teaspoon food color to each bowl; blend well.

Fill each muffin cup with 1 level measuring tablespoon batter, making 12 cupcakes of each color.
Bake 11 to 14 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely, about 10 minutes.

In large bowl, beat marshmallow creme and butter with electric mixer on medium speed until blended. Beat in powdered sugar until fluffy. Divide frosting among 5 small bowls, about 1/3 cup each. Using the same 5 food colors, lightly tint frosting in each bowl to match cupcake colors.

Assemble each popper using 2 mini cupcakes. Cut tops off each cupcake horizontally (save bottoms for another use). Spread or pipe about 1 tablespoon frosting on cut side of 1 cupcake top. Form a sandwich by placing cut side of second cupcake top on frosting; press lightly. Repeat with remaining cupcake tops. Store loosely covered.

Recipe from Betty Crocker