Spring Bling Cupcakes - Recipe

For the cupcakes:
1 3/4 cups cake flour
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 cup butter, cubed
4 eggs
1 cup whole/homo milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 325F. In a large bowl (or kitchen aid mixer, ideally) combine flours, sugar and baking powder on low speed. Add butter, and mix until butter is coated with flour. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk and vanilla. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients in 3 intervals, beating on medium speed for about 30-45 seconds between additions. Scrape sides of bowl when necessary until all ingredients are incorporated. Do not beat for more than 2.5 minutes. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter into each well of a muffin tin lined with baking cups. Bake for 18-22 minutes. Remove pans from the oven and cool for 30 minutes.

For the frosting:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
6-8 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

2. In a large bowl, cream butter with an electric mixer, beating for about 2 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add 6 cups of icing sugar, one at a time, milk and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed until well blended. Add additional 1-2 cups icing sugar to reach desired consistency. Frost each cupcake with a beveled spatula or piping bag. Sprinkle with one color or many colors of metallic dragees on top of each cupcake.

Makes approximately 30 cupcakes

***Dragees are small metallic balls that are used in decorating cakes and cookies. They are edible and come in many colors. To give your cupcakes an added class and shine, try baking them in coordinating foil liners. Foil liners also come in a variety of metallic colors, and they hold their color even if you are baking a dark colored cupcake!***