Mickey Valentine Cupcakes

Makes 12 Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients:

Cupcakes:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

• 1/2 cup water

• 1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 cups granulated sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 egg

• 1/4 cup buttermilk

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Frosting & Decorations:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

• 16 oz. confectioners sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• Pinch of salt

• 1-2 tablespoons of milk or cream
• Pink gel food coloring
  
• Pink fondant
• Heart sprinkles
• Mini Oreo cookies

Equipment:

• Piping Bag
• Coupler
• 1M Star Tip

Instructions:

1. Make Cupcakes – Mix flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl.
   
   

2. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan combine 1 cup of cubed unsalted butter with water and cocoa. Stirring constantly, heat mixture until it reaches a boil. Remove from heat.
   
   

3. Add chocolate mixture to flour mixture and mix well using a hand mixer or stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Slowly add eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla mixing well.
   
   

4. Prepare muffin tins with cupcake papers. Put approximately 3 tablespoon of batter in each cupcake paper or about ⅔ full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcake comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool on a cooling rack.
   
   

5. Make frosting – Cream butter in a medium bowl using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer. When light and fluffy, add confectioners sugar and salt bit by bit until fully combined. Add vanilla and cream or milk until completely combined. If buttercream seems too thick, you may add another tablespoon of milk or cream. If it seems runny, you may add more confectioners sugar. Add a small bit of pink food gel coloring. Throughly combine. Add to a piping bag fitted with a coupler and medium star tip. Set aside.
   
   

6. Frost the cupcakes – Frost the cupcakes using a star tip. Next add heart sprinkles and two mini Oreo cookies for Mickey and Minnie’s ears.
   
   
7. Add fondant decorations – Roll out pink fondant to 1/4″ thick. Cut out 1/2″ wide strips. Fold the strips with the ends meeting in the back to form a bow shape. Add another short strip in the center of the bow for the knot and wrap the ends around to the back. Use a dot of water to adhere. Place bows on half the cupcakes.