Page 134 - Cupcakes

4. Meanwhile, prepare the Buttercream Frosting. Divide the frosting evenly

between two bowls. Tint the frosting in one bowl light green for the grass and
tint the frosting in the other bowl either blue or yellow or pink. If you wish, you
can divide the frosting in the second bowl into two equal batches and tint half of
it yellow and the other half blue or pink.

5. Place a heaping tablespoon of frosting on each cupcake bottom and spread it
out smoothly with a short metal spatula or a spoon, taking care to cover the area

completely. Cut the cupcake tops in half vertically. Spread the top (rounded) side
of each half with a smooth coat of frosting. Turn the halves into butterfly wings
by placing them back on the cupcake, with round sides in, straight sides out, and
tilted very slightly up in a winglike position. Place a dab of green frosting under
each wing so that it stays in place. For the antennae, separate the halves of the
licorice piece and secure it in the dab of frosting underneath the wings. Use the
decorating icing tubes to pipe a butterfly outline on the frosted wings. Place dots
of a contrasting icing color within the outline or use yellow miniature M&M’s
(for kids), or gold dragées (for adults), if desired. The cupcakes are ready to
serve (remove the dragées before eating the cupcake).

the CupcakeDoctor says...

When making the buttercream frosting, add enough sugar so that the
frosting is a little stiffer than usual. You don’t want it to slide, especially if
you are making the butterflies in warm weather. Choose pastel food
colorings for that garden look, and preferably use food coloring pastes,

which are more concentrated and won’t change the consistency of the
frosting. You will need about ¼ teaspoon of the paste to tint 1 recipe of
frosting.

How to Dye Sugar to Match the Buttercream Frosting

What’s pretty on butterfly or flower cupcakes—and just about any cupcake
recipe for which you tint the frosting—is granulated sugar dyed to match. I
guess it’s something like having the purse match the shoes—really smart
looking. Plus, it adds another dimension to the butterflies, making them
glisten and seem more lifelike. The most natural-looking garden and nature