Turtle Pull-Apart Cupcakes

Betty Crocker's Inspiration

I LOVE making fun stuff but I am not very good at decorating... so the best time to make fun things is for children! They are very sweet & overlook imperfections, especially... Pre-K 3 year olds. I got the original idea from Betty Crocker ... here. Since this was for a classroom, end of year celebration, I aimed to make it more pull-apart, hand friendly & less messy, I hope! It came out really cute if I do say so myself!

<3 Momma Lishie

Yellow Cupcakes

Betty Crocker

• 2 1/3 c flour
• 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 c butter, softened
• 1 1/4 c sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2/3 c milk

Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cups in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
In medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder & salt; set aside.
In large bowl, beat butter with electric mixer on medium speed 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping bowl occasionally. Beat 2 minutes longer. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. On low speed, alternately add flour mixture, about one-third at a time,&  milk, about half at a time, beating just until blended.
Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each with about 3 tablespoons batter or until about 2/3 full.
Frost with desired frosting.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pans; place on cooling racks. 

Cool completely, about 30 minutes. 

Makes 24 cupcakes 

Desired Frosting ;):

Vanilla Frosting

• 1/2 c butter, softened
• 4 c powdered sugar
• 1/3 c milk
• 1 tsp vanilla + green food coloring!

Combine all ingredients together until smoothe. 

~AND~

Hershey's "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
• 2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.

Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting. 

Wilton Plastic Candy Bottles

DECORATING TIME!

Tail= One Nilla Wafer chocolate-frosted.

Tops of cupcakes= frosted the normal way- I use an off-set cake spatula.

Here is where I have my deocorating life-saver!

Face (eyes, nostrils, mouth) & toes= Used a candy decorating bottle (pictured, left <---)

"Shell" outline- also used candy decorator