Graduation Cupcakes

Name: Graduation Cupcakes
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 2 dozen.
Ingredients: 2/3 cup butter, softened; 1-3/4 cups sugar; 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1-1/4 cups 2% milk; FROSTING:; 1-1/2 cups butter, softened; 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 6 cups confectioners' sugar; 4 to 6 tablespoons 2% milk; DECORATIONS:; 24 miniature peanut butter cups; 1 tube (4-1/4 ounces) decorating icing in color of your choice; 24 After Eight thin mints; 24 milk chocolate M&M's in color of your choice or 24 semisweet chocolate chips

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 45 min. Bake: 15 min. + cooling YIELD: 2 dozen.

Graduation day will be a lot more festive with these graduation cupcakes. Choose decorating icing and M&M's to match the graduate's school colors. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Ingredients

2/3 cup butter, softened
1-3/4 cups sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs, room temperature
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/4 cups 2% milk
FROSTING:
1-1/2 cups butter, softened
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 cups confectioners' sugar
4 to 6 tablespoons 2% milk
DECORATIONS:
24 miniature peanut butter cups
1 tube (4-1/4 ounces) decorating icing in color of your choice
24 After Eight thin mints
24 milk chocolate M&M's in color of your choice or 24 semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.
2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in vanilla and eggs, 1 at a time. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well.
3. Fill prepared cups two-thirds full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 15-20 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
4. For frosting, beat butter and vanilla until blended; gradually beat in confectioners' sugar and enough milk to reach spreading consistency. Spread [or pipe] over cupcakes.
5. To decorate, remove paper liners from peanut butter cups; place one upside down on top of each frosted cupcake. Place a small amount of decorating frosting on each peanut butter cup; center a mint on each. Using decorating frosting, make a loop for each cap's tassel. Place an M&M on top of each loop.

Nutrition Facts

1 cupcake: 480 calories, 22g fat (13g saturated fat), 62mg cholesterol, 283mg sodium, 70g carbohydrate (58g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.