Speckled Easter Cupcakes

Learn How To Make Adorable Mini Cupcakes to Resemble Speckled Easter Eggs.

Speckled Easter Cupcakes | URBAN BAKES

I kinda-sorta contradicted myself from my last post when I stated, “I like to break free from the trends” and that “I don’t really make cupcakes too often anymore” because today I touched on a bit of both, Easter AND cupcakes in these beautiful pastel shades.  Don’t you just love these colors?!

I swear, I really did try to give you guys something different today.  For the first time I attempted macarons and every single one had a huge crack right down the center.  All of that hard work and waiting around–pshhh!  I’d rather have a cupcake any way.

Speckled Easter Cupcakes | URBAN BAKES

Have you seen the speckled effect on some of these cakes lately?  I’m assuming it’s supposed to resemble the speckled egg-shaped Whoppers and Jelly Beans.  I don’t know the true meaning behind the whole speckled fiasco around the Easter holiday.  All I know, is that my eggs are always white- with not a single freckle in sight (ooo that rhymed!).  It would be pretty cool though to see such eggs, but here in the city, you can’t expect much.  I would have to make my own and which is what I did when I used one as my test subject for the speckled effect and it looked pretty AWESOME!  I wish I had done this when I was a kid.

Speckled Easter Cupcakes | URBAN BAKES

I mastered the speckling which by the way, is super easy to do so the next stop was my frosting.  Now you want to make sure that you’ve frosted your cupcakes ahead of time.  You do not want to speckle your frosting while in the bowl.  That would cause smearing and will most likely change the color of your frosting.

Use a ‘never-been-used-on-paint’ paintbrush, keep it safe people and if you don’t have one readily available, don’t be lazy, just buy one.  I used my one-inch wide Jack Daniels paintbrush.  Obviously it’s used for brushing BBQ sauce over meats but to give you an idea, you can do the same if you have a brush with a similar food-related purpose.  Keep in mind the stiffer the bristles, the better- so ditch those silicon brushes- not gonna work.

Speckled Easter Cupcakes | URBAN BAKES

In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of sweetened or unsweetened cocoa powder and 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of vanilla extract or water. This mixture should be smooth and thin just like paint.  If it isn’t, increase the liquid portion by a 1/4 teaspoon at a time until you achieve the right consistency.  You don’t however, want to keep adding the liquid to the point the consistency is thin like water.  Then it’s too runny.  If this happens, add more cocoa.

You want to make sure you’re using cocoa powder and not melted chocolate.  Melted chocolate will cool too fast causing you to constantly reheat which may eventually burn.  Once applied frosting has dried, the speckling can now begin. (Read full directions in recipe)

Speckled Easter Cupcakes | URBAN BAKES

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Speckled Easter Cupcakes | URBAN BAKES

Speckled Easter Cupcakes


  • Author: URBAN BAKES
  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Yield: 2 dozen 1x

Description

Adorable Mini Cupcakes Resembling Speckled Easter Eggs.


Ingredients

Scale

CUPCAKE

  • 1 cup (120 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon (4 grams) baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/3 cup (67 grams) granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs (110 grams)
  • 2 teaspoons (12 grams) pure vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup (80 grams) milk

FROSTING

  • 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 to 4 cups (345 to 460 grams) powdered sugar
  • 2 to 3 (30 to 45 grams) tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon (6 grams) pure vanilla extract
  • Pastel food gel

SPECKLING

  • 1 tablespoon (7.5 grams) sweetened or unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons (18 grams) pure vanilla extract or water

 


Instructions

  1. CUPCAKES: Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line 24 mini cupcake wells with a paper baking cup; set aside.
  2. In a small bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, mix butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Mix in 1 egg at a time. Mix in vanilla.  Add in flour mixture alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture.  Mix until just combined. Pour evenly into baking cups.
  4. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of cupcakes comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
  5. FROSTING: Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat butter until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar and vanilla. Add in milk 1 tablespoon (15 grams) at a time until desired consistency.
  6. Divide frosting into small bowls and mix in pastel food gel coloring of choice. Note: begin adding very little coloring at first.  Add more if a darker or more vibrant color is desired.
  7. Frost cupcakes and set aside for a few minutes to dry.
  8. SPECKLING: Meanwhile, line working surface area with paper towels. In a small bowl, mix cocoa and vanilla extract. NOTE: read details in post.
  9. Using one hand to hold onto the brush, take an index finger and flick the chocolate off from the brush towards the frosting of each cupcake.  Once speckled, ENJOY!
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Cuisine: American

Speckling effect was inspired by Speckled Egg Cake.

Check out these other Easter Recipes!

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