Blue Velvet Giants Superbowl Cupcakes

In case you didn't already guess...I'm kinda sorta just a little excited that the Giants are in the Superbowl.

I made blue velvet cupcakes to celebrate. Nothing says Go Big Blue like royal blue cupcakes with sweet buttercream and red non-pareils. Don't you think?

Last time I tried to make a velvet cake, it was a big fat fail. This time, I made sure that I would get it right. It's for the Giants after all. Oh and t-shirts work nicely as backgrounds for cupcake photos. Just sayin'!

When I pulled them out of the oven, I did a little Cruz-style salsa to celebrate the fact that they turned out blue...not mossy, not brown...just beautiful, Giants blue. You can do it too. And you should! Everyone needs a little kitchen salsa in their lives. And some blue velvet cupcakes.

Then I tasted the cupcakes. And I was in a little bit of heaven. Especially since they were incredibly easy and only 6 WW Points+ per cupcake. Even if you don't make these for the Superbowl, you should make them for a random evening...they are just so pretty and yummy. Though I'd rather you make them for the Superbowl.

I just have to decide which of my Giants shirts to wear on Sunday. I'm thinking about my Bradshaw t-shirt (shown above). I like him.

Blue Velvet Giants Superbowl Cupcakes
*Adapted from Betty Crocker
Yields 24 cupcakes
1 cupcake = 6 WW Points+

1 box Supermoist white cake mix
1 Tbsp cocoa powder
1 1/4 C buttermilk
1/3 C canola oil
3 eggs
3 bottles blue food coloring
1 toothpick full violet food coloring gel/paste

for the frosting:
1/2 C butter, at room temperature
2 C confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2-3 Tbsp milk

red nonpareils, if desired

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix cake mix, cocoa powder, eggs, oil and buttermilk together, starting with 30 seconds on low speed, then increasing to medium speed for 1 minute. Add in food coloring (I still have it all over my hands. Classy) and beat for 1 minute more until totally blue and combined. Pour into 2 muffin tins lined with baking cups. Fill about 2/3 full. Bake for 16 - 18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool.

To make the frosting, beat the butter. Add in sugar, 1 cup at a time, thinning out with milk as necessary. Beat in vanilla. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes. Serve with milk. Eat many.

I know what you're thinking. Is she going to be shoving Giants stuff down our throats all week? Maybe No. But I really love these cupcakes! I hope you like them too!

For some other Giants-themed goodies, you should check out my white chocolate pretzel Giants popcorn...

...and marbled Giants cake bars

Have a great week, everyone!

Questions of the Day:

Will you be watching the Superbowl? Are you just in it for the food and party? I usually am just in it for the party, but not this time!

How was your weekend?

Crumbs Serves up Twilight Cupcakes with a Bite

It's Love at First Bite this month at Crumbs as they join the worldwide Twilight frenzy surrounding The Twilight Saga: New Moon with what else? A signature Twilight cupcake. A confection consisting of chocolate cake with cherry pie filling and cream cheese frosting, these super sized cupcakes are topped with red fanged wax lips and batty sprinkles. Chocolate, cherry, and cream cheese? I'm all over it, and who am I kidding? I'm frenzied up about New Moon as well. Though not my favorite of the series, seeing the fun and semi-addicting books come to life - especially in the form of Rob Pattinson - just makes me giddy with excitement.

Will you be picking up one of these delightfully biting confections? I have a feeling they'd be the perfect companion to an at-home Twilight screening before heading out to see New Moon. Who will be seeing New Moon as it opens today - or have you already hit the midnight showing? And the real burning question: Team Edward or Team Jacob?

...I'm Edward all the way! Disagree? Talk it up in comments!