New Year’s Cupcakes for the Cupcake Challenge

Instructions

Candy Stars

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cover a cookie sheet with foil.
3. Unwrap 4 Jolly Ranchers of the same flavor.
4. Place them side by side like I have in the picture.
5. %http://hoosierhomemade.com/wp-content/uploads/Jolly-Rancher-Stars.1.jpg
6. Note: In the What’s New, Cupcake? book , they crushed the candy before baking it. I wanted the stars to be a little thicker, so I didn’t crush mine.
7. Bake for about 4-5 minutes, watch them closely, because they melt super fast.
8. Heavily spray cookie cutters with cooking spray and push them into the candy.
9. Let it cool until you can touch it.
10. Carefully remove the foil from the back of the candy and VERY carefully break off the excess candy, then remove the star from the cookie cutter.
11. Place them on wax paper (there is foil under the wax paper for the picture).
12. %http://hoosierhomemade.com/wp-content/uploads/Jolly-Rancher-Stars.2.jpg
13. If you have some candy that breaks, like I did, that’s okay, you can still use them by placing that side into the frosting.

Champagne Frosting

1. Beat the butter and shortening until creamy, gradually add the powdered sugar and Champagne until desired consistency. You may need to add a little more sugar or liquid depending on how thick or thin you want your frosting.
2. %http://hoosierhomemade.com/wp-content/uploads/Champaigne-Buttercream-.jpg

Add the Decorations

1. I baked my cupcakes in silver liners to add a little more sparkle!
2. After your cupcakes (any flavor) have cooled, mound frosting in the middle and spread, covering the entire cupcake.
3. Sprinkle with white jimmies and white sugar pearls.
4. Place your stars in the middle.
5. %http://hoosierhomemade.com/wp-content/uploads/NY-Cupc.featured.jpg