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Fireworks Cupcake Towers

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Updated Sep 20, 2016
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Get patriotic with this red, white and blue cupcake tower! Use this festive centerpiece at your Fourth of July party for a show-stopping dessert.

Fireworks Cupcake Towers

  • Prep Time 1 hr 15 min
  • Total 2 hr 35 min
  • Servings 18
  • Ingredients 15
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Ingredients

Cupcakes

  • 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2/3 cup milk

Frosting

  • 6 cups powdered sugar
  • 2/3 cup butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons milk
  • Red and blue paste food color

Decoration, if desired

  • Red, white and blue candy stars
  • Candles, if desired

Instructions

  • Step 
    1
    Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 18 regular-size muffin cups and mini paper baking cup in each of 18 mini muffin cups.
  • Step 
    2
    In medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. In large bowl, beat 1 cup butter with electric mixer on medium speed 30 seconds. Gradually add granulated sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat 2 minutes longer. Add eggs, one at a time. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla. On low speed, gradually beat in flour mixture, alternately with 2/3 cup milk, beating just until blended. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.
  • Step 
    3
    Bake regular cupcakes 18 to 25 minutes, mini cupcakes 12 to 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
  • Step 
    4
    In large bowl, beat powdered sugar and 2/3 cup butter with spoon or electric mixer on low speed. Stir in 1 tablespoon vanilla and 3 teaspoons of the milk. Gradually beat in just enough remaining milk until icing is smooth and spreadable.
  • Step 
    5
    Spoon 1 1/2 cups of frosting into decorating bag fitted with small round tip (#22). Frost each cupcake (regular and mini) with slightly less than 1 tablespoon frosting, making various length streamers. Divide remaining frosting between two bowls; stir red food color into one bowl to desired color. Stir in blue food color into second bowl to desired color.
  • Step 
    6
    Remove paper liners from mini cupcakes, if desired. Place 1 mini cupcake on top of each regular cupcake. Pipe blue and red icings around base of mini cupcakes (on regular cupcakes) and on top of mini cupcakes, making various length streamers. Use any remaining white frosting to fill in streamers between red and blue ones. Sprinkle with stars; insert candle in top of each cupcake.

Nutrition

450 Calories
18g Total Fat
3g Protein
67g Total Carbohydrate
53g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
450
Calories from Fat
170
Total Fat
18g
28%
Saturated Fat
11g
56%
Trans Fat
1/2g
Cholesterol
80mg
27%
Sodium
310mg
13%
Potassium
55mg
2%
Total Carbohydrate
67g
22%
Dietary Fiber
0g
0%
Sugars
53g
Protein
3g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
10%
10%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
6%
6%
Iron
6%
6%
Exchanges:
1 Starch; 3 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 3 1/2 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
4 1/2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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