Balloon UPcakes

 

Before I splurge the whole UP party from this past weekend, I wanted to share my favorite part: these cupcakes! or what we've come to call... UPcakes!

I almost talked myself out of making them - Friday was already a pretty big baking day for the party, plus I squeezing in an extra cake for a friend that day. Then again, I've never been one to say no to more sugar (run your miles, friends). So I decided to just take it one dessert at a time, and plow right through. If they flop, our guests have 2 other dessert options already to choose from... they'll be fine.

I'm so glad I didn't push these aside! I think they turned out just adorable! For the foundation or cupcake base, I chose moist and rich french vanilla. When I was mixing everything together, I couldn't help but toss a good handful of sprinkles into the batter. I wanted them to have a little funfetti flair! It's a birthday, right? Lastly, the "cloud" frosting was just a simple almond butter cream.

The balloon balls are the star of the cupcake, and what a delightfully easy surprise they turned out to be! I planned out extra time that afternoon to make them because I thought I'd be pulling out my hair by the end. But they were very simple, and required almost no effort. I promise! Anyone can do these.

Here's what you'll need:

Balloon Upcakes

Ingredients:

large spherical sprinkles (found mine at Michaels)

homemade frosting, prepared (thick consistency)

glazed or unglazed doughnut holes (don't get white powdered this time, kids)

angel hair pasta

cupcakes, prepared

Method:

1. Pour sprinkles into a small shallow bowl. 

2. Get your cleaned hand covered in frosting, and coat doughnut holes buy rubbing frosting (thick) all over the surface. (Just like breading chicken - one had for dry ingredients, one hand for wet).

3. Immediately roll frosting-covered doughnut holes in sprinkles, pressing as you go, and place in a glass dish to harden. Freeze for about 20 minutes. 

4. Carefully poke 2 inch long angel hair pasta into covered doughnut holes, gathering pasta at the bottom to a point. Push into cupcakes. 

*Remind guests to remove pasta before eating (careful to not break pasta into UPcake balls or cupcake bottom)

UPcake idea from bakerella

To see the entire UP Birthday Party, click here.