Carrot Patch Cupcakes

Name: Carrot Patch Cupcakes
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Yield: 24
Cuisine: American,
Ingredients: 1 package (2-layer size) chocolate cake mix; 2 tsps McCormick® Pure Orange Extract; 1 cup (2 sticks) butter softened; 2 tsps McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract; 1 package (16 oz) confectioners' sugar; 1 to 2 tbsps milk; 25 drops McCormick® Yellow Food Color; 8 drops McCormick® Red Food Color; 2 tbsps unsweetened cocoa powder; Green string licorice cut into 1-inch pieces

For your Easter celebration serve a carrot patch of cupcakes on a platter. These cute cupcakes are decorated like carrots growing in the ground.

30m

PREP TIME

20m

COOK TIME

256

CALORIES

10

INGREDIENTS

Servings: 24 (1 cupcake)

Ingredients

1 package (2-layer size) chocolate cake mix
2 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Orange Extract
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 teaspoons McCormick® All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract
1 package (16 ounces) confectioners' sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons milk
25 drops McCormick® Yellow Food Color
8 drops McCormick® Red Food Color
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Green string licorice, cut into 1-inch pieces

KEY PRODUCTS

INSTRUCTIONS

1 Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare cake mix as directed on package, adding orange extract. Bake as directed on package for cupcakes. Cool cupcakes on wire rack.
2 Beat butter and vanilla in large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually add confectioners' sugar, beating well after each addition and scraping sides and bottom of bowl frequently. Add milk; beat until light and fluffy. Remove 1/2 of the frosting to medium bowl. Tint orange with yellow and red food colors. Add cocoa powder to remaining frosting; beat until well blended, adding additional milk as needed.
3 Make an indentation in the center of each cupcake using the pointed end of a sugar ice cream cone or handle of a wooden spoon, making sure not to break through bottom of cupcake. (The indentation should be pointed at the bottom and a little wider at the top – like a carrot.) Spoon orange frosting into resealable plastic bag. Cut a small piece off one of the bottom corners of bag. Pipe orange frosting into cupcakes to fill indentation. (This is the carrot.) Spread cupcakes with chocolate frosting, keeping top of the carrot visible. Place string licorice on top of each carrot to resemble the green tops of the carrot.