Christmas Swirl Cupcakes

Cupcakes are a huge hit, but they can get expensive when you choose a cupcake store to bake them. I payed over $40 for a dozen of cupcakes for my daughter’s birthday. They were good, but after I tasted them, I decided I would learn to make my OWN delicious cupcakes to save a TON! This recipe works for beautiful Christmas swirl cupcakes, but it can also work for any occasion when you change the swirl colors!

For the cupcakes you’ll need:

• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1 cup white granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 1 and ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
For the frosting you’ll need:
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 4 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp shortening
• 3 tbsp milk
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Red and green food coloring
First, you’ll preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with liners.
Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar.  Add in the eggs one at a time, then add in the buttermilk.
Slowly add the flour into the wet ingredients.
Fold in the baking powder, using a plastic spatula.
Bake for 15-20 minutes and they’re done!
Before frosting the cupcakes, please let them cool completely.
Prepare the frosting by creaming the butter on high for 5 minutes. This makes it super fluffy.
Add in the powdered sugar  ½ cup a time.  Add in the shortening and vanilla extract. Slowly add in the milk a tbsp at a time.  You might not need all 3 tbsp, just add until the frosting is to the consistency that you like.  Beat together the frosting for an additional minute after you reach the right consistency.
Divide the frosting into two separate bowls. Color one red and the other green.
Using your decorating tool, add the red frosting in one side of the bag, then add the green on the other side.
Frost and enjoy!

Ingredients

• FOR THE CUPCAKES
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1 cup white granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 1 and ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• FOR THE FROSTING
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 4 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp shortening
• 3 tbsp milk
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Red and green food coloring

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with liners.
2. Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar.
3. Add in the eggs one at a time.
4. Add in the buttermilk.
5. Slowly add the flour into the wet ingredients.
6. Fold in the baking powder, using a plastic spatula.
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes (16 minutes was perfect for me).
8. Before frosting the cupcakes, please let them cool completely.
9. Prepare the frosting by creaming the butter on high for 5 minutes. This makes it super fluffy.
10. Add in the powdered sugar in ½ cup a time – prevents powdered sugar flying everywhere!
11. Add in the shortening and vanilla extract.
12. Slowly add in the milk a tbsp at a time, might not need all 3 tbsp because of the consistency. It can really depend on where you living, surprisingly.
13. Beat together the frosting for an additional minute after you reach the right consistency.
14. Divide the frosting into two separate bowls. Color one red and the other green.
15. Using your decorating tool, add the red frosting in one side of the bag, then add the green on the other side.
16. Frost and enjoy!