Shortbread Cookie Recipe

Shortbread cookies are one of the first developed types of cookies, dating back to as early as the 12th century. It is said to have evolved from the medieval biscuit bread, in fact!

A traditional shortbread cookie recipe is made of one part sugar, two parts butter, and three parts flour. As you can see, this recipe follows that formula nearly exactly, which makes it great for people who have never baked shortbread cookies before. Read more

Sesame Street Cupcakes (starring Big Bird)

He’s an oversized bird that talks and sports a fashionable bright yellow coat. He really is one of a kind!

He’s got buggy eyes and striped legs, yet despite all of this, we all love him. Big bird was the initial star of the popular children’s show, Sesame Street, and now he’s just had his second big break…on cupcakes!

These Sesame Street cupcakes, or Big Bird cupcakes, look so cute; they’re practically a self-portrait of our giant feathered friend.

In addition to the uncanny similarities, these cupcakes are incredibly easy to make! Here let me show you how to create your own Sesame Street Cupcakes with Big Bird!

Ingredients:

• Premade Cupcakes
• Yellow Royal Icing
• White Royal Icing
• Chocolate Chips
• Blue Sprinkles

Directions:

1) Fill a pastry bag, with the Grass Tip on the end, with yellow icing. Make short choppy motions to create short fur for Big Bird.

2) For the eves, pipe small circles towards the center of the cupcake and put them close together.

3) Add the pupils by pressing chocolate chips upside down into the eyes, until level with the frosting. Add a couple sprinkles for eye lashes and you’re good to go!

4) Lastly, for the classic Big Bird nose, pipe out some yellow icing with a regular round tip. You can do this by starting with a triangle in the middle of the cupcake. Fill in the initial triangle with a lighter layer of icing along the interior of the triangle. Finally… tada, you’re done!

Of course everyone loves Sesame Street; the whole gang, Cookie Monster, Elmo, Burt, Ernie, Oscar. Despite all this communal love, the love for Big Bird is always the most for he is the face of Sesame Street. With these Sesame Street cupcakes you can express that Big Bird love in a big, big way!

Cupcake Recipe for Kids: M&M Madness!

Baking with your kids is a fun time for both of you, and a kid cupcake recipe is one of the only other thing you need to have a blast in the kitchen!

With so many recipes out there, how do you decide which one to bakewhich recipe will be the one that gives you both the most enjoyment in the kitchen?

The key to the perfect kid cupcake recipe is to make sure its easy enough that your child can help you with it and as a bonus, make sure that it has a fun decorative design that they’ll surely love!

I’ve been cooking in the kitchen with my mom and grandmother for as long as I can remember. Time in the kitchen with my mom and grandmother are some of my favorite memories so I guess I am a little partial to kid-friendly recipes!

Yield: 30 cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 1 package yellow cake mix
• 1 package vanilla pudding mix
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1/3 cup oil
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup mini M&Ms
• 1 container of frosting

Directions:

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two 12-cup muffin pans and one 6-cup with paper or foil liners.

2) In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding, flour, milk, oil, and the eggs. Beat the mix with an electric mixer on low speed for about 30 seconds. Then, beat the mix for 2 minutes on medium speed, being sure to scrape the sides.

3) Fold in 2/3 cup of the mini M&Ms and then transfer the batter into the separate muffin cups filling 2/3 full. Drop a few more of the M&Ms over the cupcakes and the bake them 18-20 minutes, or until cupcakes are fully risen and golden brown on the tops.

4) Let the cupcakes cool thoroughly and then frost each cupcake with a dollop of the pre-made frosting. Sprinkle remaining M&M’s on top and then enjoy!

You kids are bound to love these adorable cupcakes. The M&Ms in every cupcake is a special treat and a delightful surprise! Not only are they a favorite for family time, but also for kids birthday parties, or just a fun afternoon snack.

My mom and I have made this kid cupcake recipe so many times that I think I could make it with my eyes closed. Be sure to let your child help you with the recipe where they can. Things like adding the mini M & Ms, scraping down the bowl, and even frosting the cupcakes are all kid friendly jobs.

This kid cupcake recipe is a favorite by many and even I know to always keep the ingredients for this favorite recipe on hand! You just never know what could come up and when you might need to get baking these adorable cupcakes!