If you are concerned about red food dye in these Valentine’s Day Cupcakes ( which I wasn’t when I wrote this obviously but now restrict as much as possible ) use this Natural Color
- Gather your ingredients. I cheat when it comes to baking so, a cake mix and it’s ingredients, some rope licorice ( I used Pull and Peel Twizzlers), icing, the above mentioned red and pink food coloring, and a few extra bowls.
- Make the cake mix, separate it into two bowls one red and one pink. If I did this again, I would make the pink lighter, so there was more contrast.
- Fill the muffin cups with the red first, then at the pink, I used a toothpick to swirl it a little.
- Bake and let cool.
- While they cool, add a little more pink food coloring to the white icing to reach the desired color.
- Ice the cupcakes when cool enough and get ready to decorate.
- Start creating with the licorice, write names, messages or just hearts! The licorice is really easy to work with when decorating these cupcakes!
- Have a Valentine’s Day Cupcakes treat with your class or surprise your little ones!
Cioara Andrei says
Foarte interesant ce ai postat.M-am uitat pe blogul tau si imi place ce am vazut chiar e frumos si interesant.Felicitari si sigur am sa mai revin!
Georgine says
I love the licorice idea. So cute. I may use it for my Valentine’s Day cupcakes!
Allie says
A word of warning if your child is still in diapers, you may be afraid after they eat one. Just saying….
The Rowe Crew says
Okay…I just have to say that I L-O-V-E your site!!! I found it a few days ago and have poured through all your fabulous ideas and can’t wait to get busy with my 2-year-old. Just wanted to confess and ask if I can borrow some ideas (and I’ll totally give you the credit :o)). Thank you for the GREAT ideas!
Allie says
Of course of course !!
Andrea says
An alternative to food coloring – add a cup or two of frozen strawberries (thawed) or chopped fresh berries. Love the licorice idea, these look so tasty.
DeDe says
These are super cute! I will have to do these for my Valentine’s Day cupcakes! LOL at the diaper warning…
simplymother says
Yum! I just found this site, can’t remember how, but you are making me hungry!
Allie says
Andrea- you are my new best friend. I kept meaning to find ways to make the color naturally and always get sidetracked searching for something else!
Thanks!
Oh I know this post is making me crave sugar – I baked these early last week and promptly sent them with my husband to his office!
johanna says
These cakes are so so cute!! I’m definitely making them in a couple of weeks time with my son. Your site rocks there’s barely a day goes by where I don’t come here and wanna do the activity straight away with my son!!
our family says
Love the idea of using the licorice how cute.
Tonya says
Thanks for sharing these great cupcake ideas! I live the two-toned swirly cake! My son will love to mix them.
mommaof4wife2r says
ahhhh…so cute! i was trying to figure out how i could stand up hard candy on top with a toothpick, but this is a great idea!!!
johanna says
Thought you might like to see our effort!
http://isaacjklm.wordpress.com/2009/01/30/free-fun-friday/
Allie says
Johanna those look awesome! Your little guy is too precious!
johanna says
awwwwwwww thanks!! your wee man is totally scrummy too!!
thinkingchair says
Those look beautiful, and I will be decorating some banana cupcakes like that for my daughter’s birthday party on Valentines Day. I have read somewhere that if you thaw just a handful of frozen berries, that the juice that comes out as they thaw can be used to make lovely pink icing without food colouring. So I will be giving that a go.
Allie says
Let me know how it goes I can’t wait to try the berries for color!