Ingredients
For the cupcakes:
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
For the frosting & decorations:
4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2-3 tablespoons milk
Turquoise (or any shade of blue) food coloring
1/2 cup Teddy Grahams
8-10 Peach Rings
Air Heads rainbow candy
Umbrella toothpicks, to decorate
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a standard muffin tin with cupcake liners, set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened butter and sugar. Cream until smooth.
- Add in the milk, vanilla and eggs. Mix on low speed until combined, scraping the sides often.
- Add in the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix on low until combined and then bump up the speed to medium for another minute. Scrape the sides often.
- Using a small ice cream scoop or similar, divide the batter between each of the cupcake liners, filling each about ½-⅔ full.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 14-16 minutes or until the centers are set. Allow to cool completely before decorating.
- For the frosting – In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine about half of the powdered sugar, the softened butter, salt and vanilla.
- Mix on low speed until combined.
- Add in the remaining powdered sugar, milk and food coloring (start with just a little bit, you can always add more later).
- Mix on low speed until combined. Then bump up the speed to medium and mix for an additional 2-3 minutes or until frosting is smooth and fluffy. Scrape the sides often. Add additional food coloring until desired shade is achieved. Set aside.
- Place about half of the Teddy Grahams in a food processor – we sorted the whole from the ones missing limbs and place those missing a head, arm or leg in the food processor, reserving the whole ones for later.
- Grind the Teddy Grahams into a crumb consistency. Set aside.
- Cut the Air Head’s rainbow candy into rectangles big enough to fit a Teddy Graham. Assemble the rainbow towel with one Teddy Graham for a total of 8-10 sets. Set aside.
- Place a whole Teddy Graham body into the center of each peach ring – total of 8-10. Set aside.
- To assemble the cupcakes – spread an even layer of frosting over the top of each cupcake. Use an offset spatula to easily level the top.
- On half of the cupcakes, place a peach ring Teddy. Set aside.
- On the other half of the cupcakes, spread the Teddy graham crumbs over about 1/2-3/4 of the cupcake surface to create the sand beach. Then place a sunbathing Teddy on the towel on the beach side of the cupcake. Finally, insert an umbrella toothpick into the cupcake, if desired.
Notes
- Storage: Cupcakes should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 14-16 minutes
- Category: Sweet Treats