Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting & Nasturtiums

These are birthday cupcakes for my old friend, Sarah!

You could make a case that I might have cheated by using a Betty Crocker cake mix but the amazingly talented Jamie Oliver uses pre-made crusts and dough in his baking so it's all good if I get a little help too. I did doctor the mix a little, adding vanilla Jell-o pudding and was very pleased with the results; soft, flavorful little cakes.

Nasturtiums grow in my parents' backyard. They are such a pretty, delicate flower I've always liked - and they are edible - so the cook in me must have always known. If you have any small and colorful flowers at your disposal they look great when decorating baked treats, especially cakes.

Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting & Nasturtiums

     yields 30 cupcakes

Ingredients

1 box yellow or white cake mix

2 eggs

1/4 cup water

2/3 cup vegetable oil

1 packet Jell-o vanilla pudding

Frosting

1-1 lb. box powdered sugar 

1/2 cup cream cheese

1/4 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

sprinkles (optional)

flowers (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 and line cupcake baking tins with liners.

Follow the directions on the cake mix, adding the pudding mix in with the other ingredients. Mix until all the ingredients are fully incorporated and fill each cup 3/4 full.

Bake until golden on top and a toothpick comes out clean, about 20 minutes.

Let cool on counter until completely cool.

For the Frosting

Sift the powdered sugar into a large bowl.

Heat the cream cheese in the microwave for 15 seconds, or until it is creamy but not liquid.

In a mixer, combine the sugar, cream cheese, milk and vanilla until smooth and creamy. 

I placed the frosting in the refrigeration while the cupcakes cooled and removed it right before frosting.

To frost, use a knife and generously plop the frosting onto the top of the cupcake. This frosting is smooth and will drip, it's not a stiff frosting so make sure not to over do it. Once you've smoothed out the top of the cupcake to your liking add some sprinkles. Garnish with a few flowers here and there. Viola! Knock out cupcakes!

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

photo credit: A. Deggelman