Monday, December 7, 2015

Snowmen White Cake Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

By: The Food Hunter

As grown-ups we know that snowmen can't come to life but this cupcake is so adorable you can't help but think he's real. Maybe, just maybe, there's something to that magical black hat after-all!

When put to the challenge, by Kerrygold & King Arthur Flour, to create an innovative holiday cupcake I came up with this three-tiered snowman. Composed of two white cake cupcakes and one marshmallow, all of which are frosted in homemade buttercream, the snowman is completely edible including the hat which is made from black licorice.

Threaded together with a wooden skewer to make them stand the cupcake snowmen are a lot of fun to make and to eat.(of course the skewer is not edible)


Snowmen White Cake Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

For the cupcakes
1 1/8 cups cake flour
1/2 tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 large egg whites
3/4 cup sugar
½  stick unsalted butter, at room temperature (I used Kerrygold)
1/2 tsp vanilla
½  tsp almond extract
 
Center a rack in the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Prepare both a cupcake and a mini cupcake pan with liners

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk together the buttermilk and egg whites in a medium bowl. Put the sugar and the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat at medium speed for a full 3 minutes, until the butter and sugar are light in color. Add the extracts, and beat some more. 

Add one third of the flour mixture and beat on medium speed. Beat in half of the milk/egg mixture. Continue with flour mixture followed by milk mixture until all is added and ingredients are all incorporated. Beat for an additional 2 minutes. 

Divide the batter between the two cupcake pans to make equal amount large and small cupcakes. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove to a rack for cooling.

For the buttercream  
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks) (I used Kerrygold)
3 cups confectioners (powdered) sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoons heavy cream

Cream butter in a mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed. Add powdered sugar. Mix on the lowest speed until the sugar is absorbed by the butter. Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla extract, salt, and cream and beat for 3 minutes.

If your frosting needs a more stiff consistency, add a little more sugar. If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add additional cream 1 tablespoon at a time.

For assembling the snowman
black licorice, cut into 1 inch pieces
red licorice, cut in 1/2 lengthwise
marshmallows
skewers & toothpicks
orange food coloring
meat mallet

Flatten one piece of black licorice with a mallet. Attach 2nd piece of licorice to the flattened piece with a small toothpick. Cut small circles from the black licorice for eyes, mouth and buttons and place aside.


Top one large cupcake, one small cupcake and one marshmallow with frosting. Attach the small cupcake to the large cupcake using the skewer or toothpicks. Attach the marshmallow on top for the head. Insert eyes, mouth and buttons into the frosting. Place hat on top of marshmallow using either frosting or another toothpick.
Make scarf with a red licorice. Cut to desired size and wrap around snowman's neck. Pinch with frosting to hold together.

Add a few drops of orange food coloring to a small amount of frosting to make the nose. Use a small piping tip to pipe the nose directly onto the snowman and freeze immediately so that nose hardens and sticks out.

Remove from freezer after 5-10 mins and serve.

I have an ongoing relationship with Kerrygold.. I receive product, coupons or compensation for posts featuring their products. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

26 comments:

  1. These are so adorable! Buttercream is the BEST!

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  2. Those are SO cute!! I'm going to have to try these with my kids!

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  3. That is so cute! My kids would love to make this snowman.

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  4. So cute!! My son would love these :)

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  5. Those adorable! I am a huge fan of food that's fun.

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  6. These are so cute! What a fun way to make cupcakes festive for the holiday season.

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  7. These are adorable. What kid wouldn't want these for the holidays???

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  8. I bet the kids love him! Just a suggestion, "glue" a long pretzel rod to the back of him so that he's all edible for little ones.

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  9. What a cute snowman! So creative, too. :)

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  10. This is gorgeous, so nicely done!!

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  11. You did a fabulous job! He's so cute!!!

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  12. This is adorable, and great for kids (actual, or at heart)! ;)

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  13. This is adorable, and great for kids (actual, or at heart)! ;)

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  14. What a clever idea! They are so cute, I'm not sure I could eat them. LOL.

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  15. Adorable. Such a cute idea for the kids!

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  16. That snowman is the cutest!! I can't get over how adorable he is!

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  17. OH-MY-Gosh!! How cute is that!!!My daughter would love to make one!

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  18. Oh my goodness these are so cute! I love edible art :)

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  19. Those are so cute...I love how they stack up

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  20. These cupcakes are so adorable. What a fun holiday treat!

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