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Firecracker Surprise Cupcakes

These Firecracker Surprise Cupcakes are the perfect treat for your 4th of July celebration. The vanilla cupcakes are filled with a red, white, and blue surprise and topped with a swirl of buttercream frosting and colorful sprinkles. Bite into these cupcakes for a fun, festive dessert that’s perfect for summer parties!
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Ingredients
  

For the Cupcakes:

  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup whole milk
  • Red white, and blue gel food coloring (or fruit jam)

For the Buttercream Frosting:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2-3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • Red white, and blue sprinkles (for decoration)

Instructions
 

Preheat the Oven:

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners.

Make the Cupcake Batter:

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. Gradually add the flour mixture, alternating with the milk, until smooth.

Add Color for the Surprise:

  • Divide the batter into 3 bowls. Add a few drops of red food coloring to one, blue to another, and leave the third bowl white. Stir until the batter is evenly colored.

Fill the Cupcake Liners:

  • Spoon about 1 tablespoon of red batter into the bottom of each cupcake liner. Add 1 tablespoon of blue batter, then top with 1 tablespoon of white batter. Use a toothpick to swirl the colors together.

Bake the Cupcakes:

  • Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Make the Buttercream Frosting:

  • Beat the butter in a large bowl until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar, followed by the vanilla extract and heavy cream. Beat until fluffy and smooth.

Frost the Cupcakes:

  • Once the cupcakes are completely cool, pipe the buttercream frosting onto the cupcakes. You can swirl it into a high peak or just pipe it for a clean, classic look.

Decorate:

  • Top the cupcakes with red, white, and blue sprinkles for a festive touch.