Mortarboard Cupcakes Recipe

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I made these cute cupcakes when my children graduated from high school. They are so easy and can be made with your school colors.—Margaret Hooper, Winchester, New Hampshire

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Mortarboard Cupcakes Recipe

Prep: 20 min. Bake: 20 min. + cooling

Yield: 18 Servings

20 20 40

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup baking cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups water
2/3 cup canola oil
2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
FROSTING:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons milk
Food coloring
9 whole graham crackers, halved
18 milk chocolate M&M's
Black shoestring licorice, cut into 36 pieces (3 inches each)

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In another bowl, combine the water, oil, vinegar and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until combined.
Fill greased muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes; remove to wire racks.
In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Add food coloring if desired.
Level off the top of cupcakes; frost sides and bottom. Place upside down on a serving platter or covered board. Frost graham crackers; place one on each cupcake. Place an M&M's candy in the center of each cracker with two licorice pieces for a tassel. Yield: 1-1/2 dozen.

Originally published as Mortarboard Cupcakes in Country Woman May/June 1999

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Mortarboard Cupcakes

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(1-1) of 1 reviews

Reviewed on Jun. 05, 2010 by flames4u

They were a nightmare too put the icing sugar on..They looked a mess...I had bought the chocolate cover graham....so I used them ..put a dab on the bottom of the graham so they would stick to the cupcake...And then used a dab on the top ..too hold licore and the candy...they did turn out cute! but don't bother too make all that icing sugar....