Sprinkled Green Cupcakes with Dark Chocolate Icing

Admittedly it would have made more sense for me to post this recipe yesterday for St. Patty’s, but instead, I am posting it today. But who says you can only make certain recipes once a year? That’s just silly! You see, this recipe can be easily altered. I used the color green to be festive, but you can use pink, red, blue, chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit, etc… I like to think of these cupcakes as a “make it your own” recipe.

Digressing here- I was bad, yesterday. Very. I heard the word ‘holiday’ once, and got all wacky. “It’s a holiday,” I thought. “I’m takin’ it easy!” So, I used a box mix- (Gasp!)
Hey, don’t judge me. Isn’t it in the rule book that every baker needs a little help once in a while? Well, it’s in MY rule book.

Hyped up on the fact that it was a holiday and I needed to take it easy- my devilish hatch only got worse. Not only did I use a box mix- I used my mother’s recipe to go along with it! That’s right- well, hey, isn’t that why it’s there? :)

But to get back on track, I used my mother’s Simple Yellow Cupcakes recipe. Between each layer of batter, I dashed a few green sprinkles, and topped it all off with a dark chocolate icing that I thought up all on my own. (You see, I didn’t take it too easy). :)

Now, let me show you how exactly to do this recipe so you can make it anytime you like!
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Serves Approximately 24 mini cakes

For Simple Yellow Cupcakes you will need:
1 box of yellow cake mix
1 cup of AP flour, sifted
1/2 tsp baking powder
3 eggs
1 ¼ cup of milk
½ cup of sour cream
½ cup of applesauce
½ tsp vanilla
4 pats of butter
Sugar Sprinkles (you can use any color you like)

For Dark Chocolate Icing you will need:
4 tablespoons butter
2½ cups Confectioner’s Sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons dark coco powder
4 tablespoons milk
4 ounces cream cheese

Preheat oven 350 degrees:

Combine all of the above ingredients in a bowl and mix with an electric mixer.

Line cupcake tins and fill each cup with about 1 tablespoon of batter. Dust, about 1 teaspoon of green sugar sprinkles over each cup. Finish filling each cup with batter. Once tins are finished, take a tooth pick and gently stir each cupcake.
Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack and let cool.

In mixing bowl with paddle attachment, combine all ingredients for Dark Chocolate Icing. Drizzle icing over cupcakes and serve!
xx,
Tammy