Favorite Vanilla Buttercream Frosting {With Fairy Cupcake Tutorial}

In anticipation of the new Disney Pirate Fairy movie release, my daughter and I created these themed cupcakes to share with her friends. My daughter, Lauren, loves everything to do with fairies and Disney. She even has a little spot in our garden for her garden fairy house and accessories.

There are so many fun ideas to inspire a fairy-themed party. I wanted to do something different than using fondant or plastic toppers to embellish our cupcakes. I found these ornate butterfly clips at my local craft store and knew they would make gorgeous fairy wings for our cupcake toppers!

How To Make Fairy Themed Cupcakes

I detached the wings from the body of the clip, luckily they came out easy without tearing the delicate feathers. Then I used a little hot glue to attach the wings to a white lollipop stick and voila!…a fun and simple cupcake topper. The plastic swords were then added to tie in the pirate theme and, of course, a sprinkling of fairy dust.

Cupcake Decorating Ingredients

Flower Petal Baking Cups
Butterfly Clips (or any small wings that you find at your local craft store or order butterfly clips on Amazon)
4.5″ lollipop sticks
Candy Fairy Dust
India Tree natural food dyes (if you are coloring your frosting)
Hot glue gun
Small plastic swords (available at most grocery stores)
1 box Golden Butter cake mix or your favorite homemade recipe
1 recipe for Favorite Buttercream Frosting

Decorating Instructions

Gently remove the wings from the butterfly clips. These just pulled right out of the sides, so I didn’t have to cut them.

Attach the wings to the top of the lollipop stick with a little hot glue.

Set fairy wing sticks aside and assemble your cupcakes. Using your favorite butter cake recipe (or you can cheat and use Duncan Hines), bake cupcakes then allow them to cool completely. Now prepare the frosting and pipe on cupcakes using a large star tip.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Ingredients

• Butter, softened (12 tbsp)
• Confectioners sugar, sifted
• Real vanilla extract
• Almond extract
• Whole milk
• Meringue powder

Recipe Steps

Blend butter in a large mixing bowl, in a stand mixer, on medium speed until nice and fluffy. Add vanilla, meringue powder, and almond extract and blend on low until incorporated. Now add sugar 1/2 cup at a time, alternating with milk on medium speed, I use my whisk attachment for this, and blend until smooth, creamy and spreadable.

Next, sprinkle cupcakes with candy “fairy” dust, because every fairy cupcake must have a bit of magic. 🙂

Place the swords in the cupcakes and you’re all set!

Storing

You can store these cupcakes at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week. Frosted cupcakes can also be frozen. Pop them in the freezer for about 2 hours, when they are partially frozen wrap them in plastic wrap then place them in a freezer-safe container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw, remove them from the freezer and thaw at room temperature for a couple of hours.

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