Cupcakes: is there anyone who does not love them? A compact, self-contained serving of sweet cake and frosting – and, as such, a perfect dessert option when entertaining. There is no need for dessert plates and forks, nor for a busy host or hostess to take the time to cut and serve a full cake. They are great for crowds too – a single box of cake mix can make 24 or more cupcakes.
I made these red velvet cupcakes for (obviously) a Fourth of July party, and despite the fact that we also had a strawberry cream cake and a blueberry pie, these disappeared within minutes. The mix was from the grocery store, but I made the cream cheese frosting from scratch (this delicious recipe) and hand-piped it with a pastry bag – honestly the first time I had ever used one. The fact that they did not look perfect was exactly what made them special.
