Nesting Bluebird Cupcakes

Serves: 6

Alessia Franecki

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

44

Spice

54

Sweetness

44

Sourness

46

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.8

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 tsp

Salt

3 cup

Sugar

3 large

Egg

3 cup

Milk

3 large

Egg White

Directions:

1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

2

Spread coconut on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until light brown, 8 to 10 minutes, rotating pan once

3

Set aside to cool

4

Lightly frost cupcakes with 1 cup chocolate buttercream; set aside

5

Tint 2 tablespoons reserved buttercream pale yellow; place in a pastry bag fitted with a #349 Ateco leaf tip; set aside

6

Tint remaining buttercream light blue; place in a pastry bag fitted with a #11 Ateco plain round tip, and pipe bluebird heads, 3/4-inch in diameter, onto each cupcake

7

Using leaf tip, pipe yellow beaks

8

With a toothpick, add melted-chocolate eyes

9

Form each nest with 2 tablespoons toasted coconut

10

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

11

Line a cupcake pan with paper liners; set aside

12

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt

13

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy

14

Add eggs 1 at a time, scrape down bowl, and beat in vanilla

15

Add flour mixture and milk alternatively, beginning and ending with flour mixture

16

Divide batter evenly among each liner, about 3/4 full

17

Bake until golden and tops spring back to the touch, about 20 minutes, rotating pan once, if needed

18

Transfer pans to wire rack; cool completely

19

Combine sugar and egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment

20

Place over a pot of simmering water; whisk until hot and sugar is completely dissolved, about 3 minutes

21

Transfer bowl to mixer stand, and beat on high speed until cooled, 7 to 10 minutes

22

Replace whisk with paddle attachment, and set mixer on medium-high speed; add butter, 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, until incorporated

23

Remove all but 1 cup of buttercream

24

Reserve remaining buttercream for decorating

25

Beat in chocolate

26

If not using immediately, refrigerate buttercream in an airtight container for up to a week

27

Bring to room temperature, and rebeat or stir vigorously before using

28

Yield: 2 1/2 cups