How to make a cupcake rose bouquet

With Mother's Day just around the corner, now is a great time to combine your crafty side with your chef skills. This fun project turns cupcakes into a work of art. This sweet design is unique, attractive and a great way to show your mother (or other woman in your life) that you are thinking about them. These would also be perfect for a wedding. Check out this fun recipe from Gemma Stafford. 

For this recipe you will need:
Cupcakes:
3 cups and 2/3 cup all - purpose flour (or cake flour)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, melted 
2 large eggs 
2 cups buttermilk
2 tablespoons vanilla extract 

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:
1-1/2 cups butter, at room temperature
3 cups icing sugar, sifted
3 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
pinch of salt

ToolsToothpicks 
Green cupcake liners 
1M Wilton piping tip 
Green styrofoam ball 
Piping bag 
Decorative leaves and flowers 
Vase

To start, mix all of your dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix well. Melt butter and set aside to cool. In a separate bowl, mix all of your wet ingredients together. Whisk well and then add to the bowl of dry ingredients. Gently fold the ingredients together. Be careful not to over-mix the batter. Add your butter and fold into the batter. Mix only until all of the batter is wet and there are no dry clumps of flour. 

Fill green cupcake liners about 3/4 of the way full and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely. 

To build the bouquet, use a Styrofoam ball and a vase with a neck wide enough to hold the ball tightly.  To start, put two toothpicks into the top of the ball and then secure your cupcake on top (poking the toothpicks through the bottom of your cupcake). Using this same method, build around the bottom of the ball, keeping your cupcakes as close together as possible. Continue adding cupcakes until the ball is covered. 

Using a 1M Wilton frosting tip, and the buttercream frosting (ingredients listed above, check out how to make it in this video.), frost in a circle from the center of the cupcake outwards, until you have completely covered the cake. Frost all of the cupcakes. 

For an added treat, consider changing the frosting color.

Fill in any extra spaces using real flowers, leaves and baby's breath. Just press them between the cupcakes into the Styrofoam ball. When all of the flowers are added, you will have a truly stunning, edible floral arrangement. 

Like this recipe? Share it with your friends on Facebook. What color would you make these roses? Tell us in the comments below.