New York Interior Design: Bird's Nest Cupcakes

Tomorrow is the school carnival. My kids are so excited! Hubby has a project he's working on for me..eeek! (I will share next week), so instead of volunteering to help run a game I offered a cake. You know, for the cake walk.

In my mind cupcakes are easier to transport and they count as cake, right? Cupcakes it is!

I came up with some cutey birds nest cupcakes that I want to share with you today. If you have never used a piping bag or tips I have a special section for you. If you know what you're doing you could probably just look at the pics and figure it out.

Here they are:

First I just made an easy box cake mix. I chose a yellow cake mix. Then I made a double batch of a basic buttercream frosting. I usually use Wilton's.

Divide your frosting in half.

Mix your favorite color into one half and in the other add 3-4 Tablespoons of powdered baking cocoa.

Frost your cupcakes with a smooth coat of the colored frosting. {I did a really thin coat but ended up with a bit left over. Next time I would be a little more generous}

This next part is for my friends who haven't used piping bags or tips before

Piping bags can be found in a box in your cake decorating section of a larger grocery store or at a craft store. {They are usually just a few dollars} You can use a regular ziploc bag in its place but only a good quality one. I have had the seams of cheaper bags split and that makes a mess!

Take your piping bag and cut about an inch off the tip of the bag. Then drop in the white little cup ring and fill your bag.

To fill your piping bag easily, put in into a glass to fill.

With the brown frosting you are going to make a ring on your cupcake {without a tip}. This will make the base for our nest.

Now we are going to add a piping tip. Mine is #233. These tips are usually $1.99 or less and are in the cake making section. Put on the tip on the outside of your white cup ring, they add the outside ring to hold it in place.