Valentine's Day Cupcakes

Ingredients & Tools
Instructions

Instructions

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Make cupcakes.
Prepare cupcake batter following recipe instructions. Bake cupcakes in Valentine’s cupcake liners and cool on a cooling rack.
Make buttercream frosting.
In a large bowl, cream the butter and shortening. Beat on medium speed with an electric mixer using the paddle attachment until light and fluffy for about 1 minute. Beat in vanilla and scrape down the bowl occasionally.
Gradually add one cup of powdered sugar at a time. Start by mixing each cup on a low speed then beating well on medium speed. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl after each cup of sugar is added. When all the sugar has been mixed in, the frosting will appear dry and stiff.
Gradually add milk or water, adding small amounts at a time until the desired consistency is reached. Continue to beat at a medium speed until light and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl once more and beat again to make sure all the ingredients are incorporated. Add a pinch of salt if too sweet and mix until completely dissolved.
Tint frosting.
- Purple: Tint ½ cup frosting purple by combining Violet and Pink icing colors
- Pink: Tint ½ cup frosting pink with Pink icing color.
- Burgundy: Tint ½ cup frosting burgundy with Burgundy icing color.
- Mauve: Tint ½ cup frosting with Aster Mauve icing color.
Decorate cupcakes.
Prepare four decorating bags separately with tips 21 and 18. Fill bags separately with desired frosting.
Pipe stars and rosettes to cover cupcakes, varying colors and sizes.
Top the cupcakes with desired sprinkles and any other Valentine cupcake decorations.

Notes

How to pipe stars:
Using a decorating bag fitted with a star tip, hold the bag straight up, with the tip just slightly above the surface. Squeeze the bag to form a star. Use light pressure to form a small star and add more pressure to make a bigger star. Stop squeezing before pulling the tip away.
- To create a pull-out star: form the star, then continue squeezing and pull the tip up and away. Decrease pressure as you reach the desired length.
- For different size stars:
How to pipe rosettes:
Hold the bag at 90° angle with the tip slightly above the surface. Squeeze out frosting to form a star. Without releasing pressure, raise the tip slightly as you drop a line of frosting on top of the star in a tight, complete rotation. Pull the tip away, continuing the circular motion so that the tail maintains the circular shape of the rosette.
- To make a rosette border: pipe a line of uniform rosettes, touching one another.
- To prevent a tip from forming, decrease the pressure as you close your rosette. Stop squeezing right before you connect, then pull away.
Use your favorite cupcake mix.
Chocolate cupcakes add a nice rich contrast against the frosting colors or opt for red velvet cupcakes for an extra pop of color.

How To

How to Pipe a Star
One of the most popular techniques, stars come in a range of sizes and styles. Experiment with open and closed stars for variation in look. The star technique is timeless and can be used as a classic border or as a stunning fill-in for the top of a dessert.
How to Pipe A Rosette
Learn how to pipe beautiful rosettes, big and small, to add charming floral accents. Rosettes are a great way to create quick decorations. Different tips create different petal effects. Rosettes can be used to add a simple floral accent to a dessert, or cover a cake and cupcakes.
38 Valentine’s Day Cupcakes
Whether you’re baking for the family or a whole bunch of kids, these Valentine’s Day cupcakes are a great way to show your love. Not only are cupcakes great for beginners, they’re also easy to transport and decorate, making them the ideal treat for classroom parties, office gatherings or brunches out with the girls.
67 Best Valentine’s Day Desserts for Sharing with Your Sweetheart
Nothing says “I Love You!” quite like a freshly baked Valentine’s Day treat. So this year, skip the store bought bakes and try one of these quick and easy Valentine’s Day desserts instead!