Spring Inspired Vanilla Candy Cupcakes

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Try these Spring Inspired Vanilla Candy Cupcakes for a delicious treat that is perfect for all this season’s parties and holiday celebrations!

Who doesn’t love a vanilla cupcake?  Cupcakes are my go-to dessert for just about any season or holiday throughout the year, but these Spring Inspired Vanilla Candy Cupcakes are the prettiest – almost too pretty to eat!

When I developed this recipe, I knew I wanted them to have both a Spring and Easter feel to them.  There is no better way to do that than to make them pretty pastel colors and add a little candy touch!

We have a few smaller family gatherings this Spring that I’ll be making these cupcakes for.  The recipe in this post is for 12 cupcakes.  It is the perfect amount for all the mini moments we will have this season!

I found these MARS® Mixed Mini’s bags at Sam’s Club to use on top of the cupcakes.  There is 165 pieces of candy in each bag!  You get a great variety too!  Sam’s Club is the perfect place to shop early to stock up on all of your Easter needs!  All of my holiday shopping is already done now!

Vanilla Candy Cupcakes

This vanilla candy cupcake recipe is rich and full of vanilla flavor!  I use heavy cream in place of some of the butter and reduce the amount of sugar as well. This results in a really moist cupcake that’s just sweet enough.  The icing on top is the perfect compliment!

To color the cupcakes and icing, I use yellow, pink, purple, and blue gel food coloring and add just a little bit at a time to get the perfect pastel shades!  I use the leftover icing to decorate the candy from the MARS® Mixed Mini’s bag. Then, I place the candy on top of the cupcakes by using a little bit of icing on the bottom as “glue!”  On the square candies (SNICKERS®, MILKY WAY®, and 3 MUSKETEERS ®), I draw flowers, Easter bunnies, and eggs using a very small circle piping tip and extra cupcake icing.  On the longer TWIX® candy I write the words “Spring!” and “Easter” to make things even more fun.

Alternatively, you can hollow out the middle of the cupcakes and place about 4 of the Peanut Butter M&M’S® inside for a little surprise!  Then, pipe on the icing in pretty Spring colors and designs.

Need More Inspiration?

Need more ideas for the upcoming Easter holiday and Spring season?  Head over to Sam’s Club to pick up a bag of MARS® Mixed Mini’s and then check out this website where you will find more yummy recipes and fun, creative tutorials!

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Spring Inspired Vanilla Candy Cupcakes

Course: Dessert

Servings: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

Vanilla Cupcakes

• 1 1/4 Cups flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 Cups sugar
• 1/4 Cup butter softened
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 Cup heavy cream
• food coloring *optional

Vanilla Icing

• 4 Cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 Cup butter softened
• 2 Tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• food coloring *optional

Decorations

• 12 pieces MARS Mixed Mini's candy bars I use TWIX®, SNICKERS®, MILKY WAY®, and 3 MUSKETEERS ®
• 48 individual pieces Peanut Butter M&M’S® candies *if opting to make surprise cupcakes

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a cupcake pan with 12 liners. Mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl, and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the sugar and butter using an electric mixer on medium speed. Add the eggs, then the vanilla until well blended and smooth. Add the flour mixture and the heavy cream by alternating them until the batter is smooth and everything is well blended.
3. If using food coloring, this is the time to divide your batter into equal portions for each color you plan to use. Mix the coloring in until you reach your desired result.
4. Fill each cupcake liner half full. Bake the cupcakes for 12-14 minutes. Check to see if they are fully done baking by inserting a toothpick into the middle. When it comes out clean, they are done!
5. While the cupcakes are baking, make the vanilla icing by adding the powdered sugar, butter, heavy cream, and vanilla to a medium mixing bowl. Beat on medium speed until smooth. Again, if using food coloring, divide your icing and color as desired. Icing cupcakes as desired once they are cool.
6. Use leftover icing in a piping bag fitted with a very small round tip to "draw" Spring and Easter themed wording and designs on the candy from the MARS® Mixed Mini's bag. Add icing to the bottom of each candy to "glue" it to the cupcake. Alternatively, hollow out the middle of each cupcake before icing and place 4 Peanut Butter M&M’S® inside to make surprise cupcakes.

Recipe Notes

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