Bridal Shower Cake

A sweet, 8" white cake, frosted with buttercream and adorned with bright fondant tulips is the perfect way to wish a bride-to-be the best of luck.

(prices start at $18)

Patriotic Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

These are easy and pretty cute. I also used them to test my new cupcake decorating set. SO fun!

Your favorite white cake mix (I used a box mix)

Red & blue food coloring

Buttercream frosting

Red & blue M&Ms

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare cupcake pans with nonstick spray.

Prepare cake mix according to directions. Divide batter into three bowls. Set one bowl aside (white).

Add about 30 drops of red food coloring to one bowl and 30 drops of blue food coloring to the other. Blend well.

Drop random spoonfuls of each color into each cupcake space, until spaces are 2/3 full.

Bake according to directions.

Frost with buttercream frosting.

Double-bag M&Ms and lightly crush with a rolling pin. Sprinkle on top of frosted cupcakes.

Buttercream Frosting

1 cup unsalted butter, softenend

3 cups confectioner's sugar

1 tsp vanilla

pinch of salt

Beat ingredients until smooth.

Pistachio & Chocolate Cupcakes

Since I had a ton of leftover pistachios, I had to find a way to use them up. Inspiration struck and we found a winner. Strangely, these are DH's favorite so far.

1 box white cake mix

4 eggs

1 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup oil

1 package instant pistachio pudding mix

1/2 cup shelled pistachios

chocolate frosting (I was lazy and used storebought triple fudge chip)

Preheat oven to 350 and spray cupcake pan with nonstick spray.

With an electric mixer, mix cake mix, eggs, water, sugar, oil and pudding mix on low for one minute. Scrape sides of bowl and mix at medium speed for two minutes. Fill cupcake spaces halfway and bake for 20-24 minutes or until cake is done.

Cool for ten minutes in pan and then completely on wire rack or serving platter.

When cool, decorate with chocolate frosting and pistachios.