Pretty Pink Sparkle Cupcakes with Pink Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
I don’t think I ever realised how much pink stuff a girl could be into. Now my daughter isn’t the most girlie girl but despite being covered in mud and threatening her with no TV just so that I can brush her hair when it came to her party this year it had to be pretty, pink and Princesses. I guess it’s what all 6-year-old girls want so with a few moments of ARGH!!! What I set about adapting a few of our favourite recipes to make them perfect for princesses and parties in pink. This is our very successful Pretty Pink Sparkle Cupcakes with Pink Vanilla Buttercream Frosting which were the only things left after the party possibly due to the fact that I made enough for every little princess to have one and more.
Party Cupcakes
I’m not a fancy cake maker the easier for me the better – if I can throw it all into the mixer and not have to fiddle around that would be perfect but that’s not always possible, however, this recipe really wasn’t that complicated at all and apart from needing to restock my sprinkles and food colouring everything that was needed was around.
When it comes to decorating cupcakes well these were very simple some Wilton Princess Cupcake Kits with our Pink Vanilla Buttercream Frosting recipe you can make them quickly. Check out my tips for non-cake maker mums on how you can get these cakes just right below.
Tips for making pretty cupcakes for parties
I always dreaded making cupcakes – I’m not any good at frosting pretty patterns or decorating cakes but I do try my best here’s a couple of tips that will help you to make successful cupcakes every time.
Cool Cupcakes!
Don’t leave frosting the cupcakes till the last minutes – make sure that they are completly cool before you attempt to add the buttercream frosting otherwise…. it will just melt straight off
Colouring Paste not Food Colouring
Liquid food colouring is a no for cake decorating – I keep some in the house to use with activities but when I bake out comes the food colouring paste – you only need a little each time and the colours are REALLY vibrant. They last a long while and as you can buy boxes of popular colours it’s worth getting ones that you think you will use. If you do opt for liquid food colouring then you will likely have to add less milk for the frosting and more icing sugar as the colouring tends to have a taste as well as needing a lot more to colour than with the paste.
Invest in a Stand Mixer
You don’t have to save up years and get the best of the best – although if I had my way I would have a Kitchen Aid just because I love the look of them – but a good investment for busy mums is a stand mixer – yes you can make cakes without it but it saves time and whilst it’s mixing up you can do something else like check that the kids aren’t destroying the house that you have just tided
Use a Syringe Frosting
Piping bags and I just don’t get on – I always end up covered in the stuff so a couple of years ago I treated myself to a syringe cake decorating set and WOW what a difference it made – I doubt I will ever win awards for how the cakes are decorated but I’ll swap the precision for the lack of mess any time and it’s so much quicker as well.
Pretty Pink Sparkle Cupcakes with Pink Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
An easy recipe for sparkle cupcakes with a pink vanilla buttercream icing ideal for your little princess.
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 110 g Soft Margarine
- 225 g Caster Sugar
- 2 Large Free Range Eggs
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 120 ml Semi-Skimmed Milk
- 275 g Plain Flour
- 2 tsp Baking Powder
- 12 tsp Pink Hundreds and Thousands
Pink Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
- 115 g Unsalted Butter At Room Temperature
- 60 ml Semi Skimmed Milk
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 500 g Icing Sugar Sifted
- Pink Food Colouring Paste
- Silver or Gold Stars
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C
- Line a 12 hole muffin tin with your pink princess muffin cases
- In a stand mixer cream the margarine and sugar together until pale and smooth
- Add in the eggs one at a time mixing constantly
- In a jug add the milk and vanilla extract
- In a separate bowl mix the baking powder and plain flour
- Add around 1/4 of the flour to the stand mixer and mix
- Now add a 1/4 of the milk mix
- Repeat the previous two steps until all of the milk and flour have been added
- Remove from the stand mix and add the hundreds and thousands. Stir gently to combine
- Spoon the mix into the cupcake cases
- Bake for 20 - 25 minutes until risen and slightly golden.
- Remove and leave to cool on a wire wrack
Pink Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
- In the stand mixer beat the butter until it is smooth
- Now add the milk and vanilla extract with 1/2 of the icing sugar
- Combine until it is smooth
- Now whilst it is still mixing gradually add the remaining icing sugar
- Once you have a smooth consistency add the food colouring paste - just a tip of a knife will produce a vibrant colour like we have and no taste
- Frost each cupcake as you like and then add in your princess crown
- Then sprinkle on some stars and serve to the princess party guests
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 475Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 103mgCarbohydrates: 79gFiber: 1gSugar: 60gProtein: 4g
More Party Cupcakes to Make
- Give a Bear a Hug Cupcake for Valentine’s Day
- Carrot Patch Cupcakes for a Peter Rabbit Birthday Party or Easter