Colorful Easter cupcakes

     April is here and that means baby chicks are hatching!  I wanted to make very colorful cupcakes for Easter that had birds nests and baby chicks. Not only are the tops colorful but the inside is also very colorful with a rainbow cake.  My daughter loved the surprise of the rainbow and wanted to give them to all her friends around the area.

       Let us get started with a simple vanilla cake batter:  Oven 350 degrees, bake for 12-15 minutes

1 stick of unsalted butter, room temp.
1 cup granulated sugar
2 med. sized eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup milk

1. In an electric mixer cream together the butter and sugar for about three minutes.  You want this to be very fluffy.
2. Use a spatula to scrap the edges and then cream in the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla once the eggs are well incorporated.
3.  In a small mixing bowl combine: flour, baking powder, and salt
4.  Slowly add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the cake batter, then add 1/3 of the milk combine well. Repeat this step till the flour and milk are all combined.
5. Divide the batter into four smaller bowls to color. Chose four food colors that remind you of spring.  Add just a small amount to the bowls and mix until well incorporated.
6. In four different gallon zip lock bags add the cake batters, also put cupcake wrappers into the cupcake pan.

7.  Snip off the corners of the bags to pipe batter into the cupcake wrappers.  I made different color patterns so they would be different.

8.  Bake, allow to cool, and decorate!!!

BIRD'S NEST

        Oh these were so much fun to make!!  Rice treat nests with a little chocolate drizzle and Easter chocolate eggs made these nests a great topping for the rainbow cupcakes.
Follow the instructions on the box on how to make rice treats.  I bought the chocolate covered rice cereal to make the nests look more like a real nest.
I used melting chocolate as a drizzle for the inside of the nest to look like sticks also to help hold the eggs in the nest.  Once put all together place in the fridge for a few moments to help set the chocolate.
Pipe a little bit of green butter cream frosting to the top of the rainbow cupcake and then add the birds nest.  Your family and friends will love your creative cupcakes!!