Easter Cupcakes

I never claim to be a "pro" at decorating cupcakes or cakes... Hell, I don't even claim to be good at it. But I have fun doing it and my kiddies think they look good and really, that's all that matters to me. LOL Here are some Easter cupcakes that I whipped up this past weekend. Nothing special, really, but we sure enjoyed them.

You Will Need:

1 box Funfetti Cake Mix
12 oz Raspberry Ginger Ale, warm
1 tsp of Raspberry extract
Red food coloring (optional)
24 "Spring" Oreo Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin pans with cupcake wrappers.
In a large bowl, combine cake mix, ginger ale, raspberry extract and a drop or two of red food coloring (if desired.) Beat for a minute or two.
Into each cupcake wrapper, drop an Oreo cookie.
Scoop batter into each cupcake wrapper on top of each Oreo..
Bake for 17-20 minutes or until they pass the handy dandy toothpick test. Watch them closely toward the end.
Let cupcakes cool in muffin pans for 5 minutes or so, then remove to wire racks to finish cooling.

Basic "Buttercream" Frosting:

2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup shortening (I use the Crisco Butter flavor one)
6 cups powdered sugar
2-4 Tbsp milk (depends on the consistency)
1 and a 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
green food coloring (as little or as much as you need to reach the shade of green that you like for the grass)

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and the shortening.
About a cup to a cup and a half at a time, add in the powdered sugar while beating.
Add the milk a Tbsp at a time until you reach the consistency that you like.
Add the vanilla extract and green food coloring and give it a good mix with the beaters for another 2 minutes or so.
Pipe some "grass" onto each cupcake. I garnished with a bunny Peep and some
whopper robins eggs candies.

And THIS, my friends, is where my mind goes when I am stalling on having to clean up the TERRIBLE mess I have made from baking. This was my daughters favorite one. LOL I give you, Bad Bunny Cupcakes.