King Cake Cupcakes Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. Make cake mix as directed on box, using water, oil and eggs. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. Bake and cool as directed on box for cupcakes.
• In medium bowl, mix 6 oz of the cream cheese and 3/4 cup of the powdered sugar until well blended and smooth. Spoon mixture into decorating bag fitted with 1/2-inch round tip. Poke hole in top of each cupcake with tip; pipe small amount of mixture into center of cupcake. Smooth top.
• In large bowl, beat remaining 4 oz cream cheese, 1/3 cup butter, remaining 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar, the half-and-half and almond extract with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and spreadable. If necessary, stir in additional half-and-half, 1 teaspoon at a time. Frost cupcakes. Sprinkle with bands of purple, green and yellow sugar. Store covered in refrigerator.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper cup liners.
• Stir together flour, baking powder, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Cream butter, 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer until well combined. Add egg whites, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately add half of the flour mixture, all the buttermilk, and remaining flour mixture, beating after each addition until just combined.
• Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full, and smooth tops with the back of a spoon.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make frosting. Blend cream cheese, butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar to reach a spreading consistency.
• Frost cooled cupcakes and decorate with luster dust and sanding sugars.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and white sugar in warm milk. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• Stir the egg yolks and melted butter into the milk mixture. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, nutmeg and lemon zest. Beat the flour mixture into the milk/egg mixture 1 cup at a time. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 2 hours.
• In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese and 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar. Mix well. In another small bowl, combine the remaining 2 cups confectioners' sugar, lemon juice and 2 tablespoons milk. Mix well and set aside.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Roll the dough out into a 6x30 inch rectangle. Spread the cream cheese filling across the center of the dough. Bring the two long edges together and seal completely. Using your hands shape the dough into a long cylinder and place on a greased baking sheet, seam-side down. Shape the dough into a ring press the baby into the ring from the bottom so that it is completely hidden by the dough. Place a well-greased 2 pound metal coffee can the center of the ring to maintain the shape during baking. Cover the ring with a towel and place in a warm place to rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove the coffee can and allow the bread to cool. Drizzle cooled cake with lemon/sugar glaze and decorate with candy sprinkles.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 mini-cupcake pans with paper liners.
• In large bowl, combine cake mix with 1 cup of milk and 3 eggs. Using electric mixer, beat 1 minute on medium speed. Add melted butter, and beat for an additional 1 minute until well mixed.
• Combine 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons melted butter in small bowl. Stir until mixed and crumbly.
• Using small ice cream scoop, fill muffin pan with 1 scoop of batter in each liner.
• Sprinkle brown sugar mixture over batter, topping each with additional 2 scoops of batter.
• Bake cupcakes for 15 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center of muffin comes out clean.
• Cool completely.
• Using pre-packaged decorator icing tubes in Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and gold (yellow), dollop each color on top of cooled cupcakes. Sprinkle sparkling white decorator's sugar over each cake.