Name: Graduation Cupcakes
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 45 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 2/3 cup butter, softened -; 1-3/4 cups sugar -; 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract -; 2 large eggs, room temperature -; 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour -; 2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder -; 1/2 teaspoon salt -; 1-1/4 cups 2% milk -; Frosting: -; 1-1/2 cups butter, softened -; 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract -; 6 cups confectioners' sugar -; 4 to 6 tablespoons 2% milk -; DECORATIONS: -; 24 miniature peanut butter cups -; 1 tube (4-1/4 ounces) decorating icing in color of your choice -; 24 After Eight thin mints -; 24 milk chocolate M&M's in color of your choice or 24 semisweet chocolate chips -

Ingredients for - Graduation Cupcakes

1. 2/3 cup butter, softened

2. 1-3/4 cups sugar

3. 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4. 2 large eggs, room temperature

5. 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

6. 2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

7. 1/2 teaspoon salt

8. 1-1/4 cups 2% milk

9. Frosting:

10. 1-1/2 cups butter, softened

11. 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

12. 6 cups confectioners' sugar

13. 4 to 6 tablespoons 2% milk

14. DECORATIONS:

15. 24 miniature peanut butter cups

16. 1 tube (4-1/4 ounces) decorating icing in color of your choice

17. 24 After Eight thin mints

18. 24 milk chocolate M&M's in color of your choice or 24 semisweet chocolate chips

How to cook deliciously - Graduation Cupcakes

1 . Stage

Preheat oven to 350°. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.

2 . Stage

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in vanilla and eggs, 1 at a time. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well.

3 . Stage

Fill prepared cups two-thirds full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 15-20 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

4 . Stage

For frosting, beat butter and vanilla until blended; gradually beat in confectioners' sugar and enough milk to reach spreading consistency. Spread over cupcakes.

5 . Stage

To decorate, remove paper liners from peanut butter cups; place one upside down on top of each frosted cupcake. Place a small amount of decorating frosting on each peanut butter cup; center a mint on each. Using decorating frosting, make a loop for each cap's tassel. Place an M&M on top of each loop.