Perfect party cupcakes

BALTIMORE - Caroline from Caroline's Cupcakery gave some possible tips on how to give your cupcakes some life.

She says have a vision in mind, not necessarily of a cupcake but of what you want the cupcake to look like.

She also adds:

-Have the proper colors to create your vision as well as any accessories to finish the cupcake off.

-It helps if everything on the cupcake is edible so your guest can just bite right into it instead of tearing your vision a part before eating, allows them to avoid a mess.

-Have the right piping tips to achieve the look you want. Certain piping tips create certain shapes.

-Have any other utensils needed to decorate such as a paint brush, toothpicks, cake icing knife etc.

-Most importantly make sure your icing is the correct consistency, if it's too thin it will just melt everywhere.

-Don't forget if things go wrong you can always just swipe off the icing and start again! That's the beauty of a small canvas like a cupcake!

Margarita Cupcakes with Tequila Lime Butter Cream

Ingredients
3 sticks softened butter (not melted)
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs at room temperature and 1 large egg white
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 3/4 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoons salt
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole milk
4 grated lime peels
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and line 2 cupcake pans with liners Beat butter and sugar in mixer until creamy.

Gradually beat in eggs and egg white, scraping down the bowl between each egg.

In a medium bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a large measuring cup stir together milk, lime juice and vanilla extract. On low speed alternate adding the flour mixture and the milk mixture into your mixing bowl ending with the flour mixture. Mix in the lime peel.

Fill liners 3/4 of the way full and bake for 25 minutes. When you remove them make sure they are bouncy and baked all the through by inserting a tooth pick in the center of each cupcake.

There should be either nothing or crumbs on the tooth pick, no liquid.

Tequila Lime Butter Cream

4 sticks of butter
6 cups confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons Gold Tequila
2 tablespoons lime juice
Pinch of salt
Lime Green Food Coloring

Directions:
Mix the butter until light and fluffy. Add confectioners sugar 2 cups at a time. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Once completely incorporated, add tequila, lime juice and food coloring and mix.

After cupcakes are completely cool, usually 20-25 minutes, ice each one and top with a lime wedge.