Santa Cupcakes

Ingredients

• ¼ cup sour cream 57g (room temperature)
• ½ cup buttermilk 118mL (room temperature)
• 2 medium eggs
• ¼ cup hot coffee 60mL
• ⅓ cup veggie oil 79mL
• 2 tsp vanilla extract 10mL
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 180g
• 1 ⅓ cup granulated sugar 265g
• ¼ cup cocoa powder 20g (nice)
• 1 tsp baking soda 6g
• ½ tsp kosher salt 2.5g
• 1 2/3 lbs confectioners sugar 700g 900g
• 1 lb butter 450g (unsalted, room temperature)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 5mL
• 1 tbsp whole milk 15mL
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt 2g
• food coloring

Method

1. Preheat to 350F. Add papers to a cupcake tin.
2. Sift the dry ingredients (including the sugar) into the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk to combine.
3. Add the wet ingredients into a large bowl and whisk together.
4. Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
5. Whisk until smooth and combined.
6. Distribute batter evenly into the cupcake papers and bake for about 15 -20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Allow time to cool.
8. For the Vanilla Buttercream:
9. In a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter until light and fluffy.
10. Sift the confectioners' sugar into the creamed butter.
11. Add 1 tsp vanilla, 1/4 tsp salt, and milk.
12. Separate into 3 bowls. One will remain uncolored. One bright red and the other flesh colored. I used a touch of soft pink and orange but you can choose whichever color you'd like.
13. Use a small spatula or knife to smear and smooth some of the flesh toned buttercream across the centre of the cupcake.
14. Smear red buttercream onto the top third of the cupcake. I also spread another layer diagonally from the lower right to the upper left for the fold of Santa's hat.
15. Use a star tip to pipe a dollop of white buttercream for the end of Santa's hat. Now use the same tip and wiggle it across the cupcake to create the hat's trim.
16. Add the two mini chocolate chips pointy side down for the eyes.
17. Pipe the beard with the star tip using a loopy motion to give some gentle texture to the facial hair.
18. Use a red M&M (logo side down) for the nose.