Red {Velvet} White and Blue Cupcakes

Happy Independence Day, friends! To say that I'm proud to be an American is a huge understatement. I love this country. I love the principles it was founded on, the people who live here, and the flag that waves. I'm so thankful to live in a country where, for hundreds of years, we've had the freedom to worship my Savior and read His Word without persecution or fear of worse. I'm extremely thankful and truly humbled by those who sacrifice each and every day to fight for my freedom and the rights that I enjoy daily.

So, this morning, I want to say thank you. Thank you, Lord, for giving us this great nation and your gift of salvation that really gives us a reason to celebrate. Thank you, forefathers, for believing in something enough to fight for it. Thank you, men and women who serve, for giving of yourselves and putting your lives on the line so that I can remain free. Thank you, Old Glory, for waving and offering us hope. Thank you, America, thank you...

Today I'm sharing, not a new recipe, but a new technique that helped me make these beautful cupcakes. I came across this icing technique one day while wasting time on browsing the internet.

How cool does that look? We had a 4th of July picnic at church Sunday night and I brought these babies. Let me tell you...they were a huge hit! I started with my tried and true Red Velvet cake recipe, added my favorite White Chocolate buttercream, threw in some food coloring and an awesome technique, and there you have it...beautiful, delicious cupcakes perfect for a patriotic celebration!

This is the second time I've used this technique (the first was for my Nutella cupcakes). This time I needed to swirl three colors together and used a straight tip instead of a star. I just loved the result! I should probably warn you...you may be seeing a lot more swirled icing on this blog now that I've got it figured out! :)

I hope that you all have a fun, safe holiday with your friends and family! Before I go, here's a picture of my friend's sweet baby girl, enjoying our picnic (and one of my cupcakes) Sunday night...

Ha! I love it! Until next time, happy reading, happy cupcake-ing, but more importantly, happy 4th of July!!

Alice's Cupcake Wonderland

Last weekend, while on vacation, I received two custom cupcake orders and I'm sharing the first one with you today. I have to tell you...this was probably the most fun I've had making cupcakes so far! I've already shared with you the Mad Hatter Wedding Cake I made for my sister last year and that experience made these cupcakes pretty easy. I already had the how-to figured out for the decorations so this was familiar territory. The customer wanted 4 dozen cupackes in a variety of flavors: red velvet (for the Queen of Hearts - how appropriate!), dark chocolate, vanilla, and marble. The icings were cream cheese, chocolate buttercream, vanilla buttercream, and a swirl of chocolate and vanilla buttercreams for the marble cupcakes. Most of these recipes are familiar to you by now but you'll find the new ones posted below. For the decorations, I used fondant and gel food coloring, and hand molded or cut out the desired shapes. Here they are....

A Cupcake Wonderland

Cupcakes for a tea party

Cupcakes fit for the Queen of Hearts

The Mad Hatter's Cupcake - my favorite!

A Caterpillar's treat....I love these mushrooms!

Of course, it's not Wonderland without that grinning Cheshire Cat :) The grins were made by piping black royal icing onto parchment paper, letting it harden, then filling in the "teeth" with thinned white royal icing.

Another cupcake for a tea party

I hope you love them as much as I do! The customer was very pleased and said that everyone at the party was raving over them so that made my day!! Here are the new recipes:

Cream Cheese Icing:


3 8oz pckgs cream cheese
1 lb unsalted butter
1 lb (approx. 4 cups) confectioner's sugar
1 t vanilla

Cream butter and cream cheese until light and there are no remaining lumps. Add vanilla and combine. Mix in sugar, one cup at a time, whipping well after each addition. Once all sugar has been incorporated, mix icing until smooth and creamy. Refrigerate when not in use.

Chocolate Buttercream: (adapted from here)


1/2 cup shortening
1 stick unsalted butter
3/4 cup dark cocoa
1 t vanilla
1 lb (approx. 4 cups) confectioner's sugar
3-4 T milk

In large bowl, cream shortening and butter with electric mixer. Add cocoa and vanilla. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry. Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Keep bowl covered with a damp cloth until ready to use. For best results, keep icing bowl in refrigerator when not in use. Refrigerated in an airtight container, this icing can be stored 2 weeks. Rewhip before using.

For the vanilla buttercream, follow the above recipe, omitting the cocoa, and only use 2 T milk.

For the chocolate-vanilla swirl icing on the marble cupcakes, just fill 1/2 (vertical) of your piping bag with chocolate and the other with vanilla. The two will swirl together as the come out of the tip. For an even cleaner swirling result, go here. This was my first time using the swirl technique. Next time I'll try the way that is shown on the link. It looks really clean and beautiful!

Marble Cupcakes:


1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
3/4 cup butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup cocoa

Combine first four ingredients and set aside. Cream butter and sugar in mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Then add eggs to creamed mixture, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla and mix to combine. Add sour cream alternately with dry ingredient mixture, then divide batter equally into two bowls. Add cocoa to one bowl and mix til combined. Drop into cupcake liners one tablespoonful at a time, alternating between vanilla and chocolate, until 2/3 full.

Here's what they look like when they're baked.

Later this week I'll share the Star Wars cupcakes with you plus a special post on our newest family member, Jax! Let's just say...we LOVE him!

Me and Jax at Petco, waiting to sign the adoption papers and take him home! :) Don't you just love that face??

Don't forget to visit my previous post and enter the giveaway for a Cupcake Love Prize Pack, ending in 5 days! As always, happy reading and, more importantly, happy cupcake-ing!

Linking up here every week: SumosSweetStuff, FlourMeWithLove, ToastieStudio, SerendipityAndSpice, LadybugBlessings, MyFavoriteFinds, CrazyForCrust, I'mTopsyTurvy, ACreativePrincess, MrsFox'sSweets, GingersnapCrafts, PincushionCreations, 733Blog, BearRabbitBear, LiveLaughRowe, TwinkleInTheEye, Michelle'sTastyCreationsAndCraftyIdeas, SomewhatSimple, TheREALHousewivesOfRiverton, SevenAlive, ThesePeasTasteFunny, GoingsOnInTexas, OneArtsyMama, Happy Go Lucky, TwoSasters, PetalsToPicots, LadybirdLn, KitchenFunWithMyThreeSons, WhipperBerry, TheGrantLife, BubblyNatureCreations, TatertosAndJello, WhileHeWasNapping, SixSistersStuff, SkipToMyLou