Holiday Housewarming Cupcakes

Lastly, my aunt needed 3 dozen cupcakes for her in-law's holiday housewarming party today. We decided to make vanilla and chocolate cupcakes with lime buttercream, chocolate ganache buttercream, and vanilla buttercream with a variety of decorations. I also got to try out my new piping tip to create these swirls!

Housewarming Cupcakes: Telephone, spoon, teapot, lamp, bed, key, armchair, outdoor lamp, and bathtub. These were made from fondant - except the outdoor lamp. That was just a cute cake decor we had from a Christmas cake. We could never make fondant look clear like glass! It is not pictured here, but we also made a wok, a house plant, and a small, red Monopoly house. There are always more individual photos on our facebook page.

Hey there Santa! Santa here was made from fondant using brown jimmies for the eyes.

Christmas wreath! This wreath was made from fondant using red, white, and green sprinkles as wreath ornaments.

Hey there red-nosed Roo! This reindeer was made from fondant, using brown jimmies for the eyes and antlers.

How about some frosting recipes as our gift to you? That way you can enjoy cupcake goodies this holiday!

Lime Buttercream

(Makes about 2 cups)

1 stick of butter

2 cups of confectioner's sugar

1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice

1/2 tablespoon of fresh lime zest

1. Using a mixer, beat the butter until it is nice and fluffy.
2. Add in the confectioner's sugar and vanilla, continue to mix till smooth.
3. Wash the lime and using a zester, zest the whole lime.
4. Mix the lime zest with the buttercream.
5. Cut the lime in half and squeeze out the lime juice.
6. Add the lime juice with the buttercream and mix well.
7. If you want, tint the buttercream lime green!
   

Chocolate Ganache Buttercream

(Makes about 2 cups)

1 stick of butter

2 cups of confectioner's sugar

1/4 cup of heavy cream

1/4 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Heat the heavy cream over a double boiler until the edges begin to bubble.
2. With the chocolates in a heat proof container, pour the heated cream in. Let it sit for a minute and then whisk the chocolate and heavy cream together. Set aside to cool.
   
3. Using a mixer, beat the butter until it is smooth and fluffy.
4. Add the confectioner's sugar and continue mixing.
5. Finally, add the chocolate ganache mixture into the buttercream and mix until smooth.
   

Vanilla Buttercream

(Makes about 2 cups)

1 stick of butter

2 cups of confectioner's sugar

1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

1/8 cup of heavy cream

1. Using a mixer, beat the butter until it is fluffy.
2. Add in the confectioner's sugar and vanilla extract.
3. Add the heavy cream and continue mixing until the frosting is smooth.