Sweet Lil' Baby Rattle Cupcakes

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Sweet Lil' Baby Rattle Cupcakes

Posted on July 30, 2012 at 6:40 AM

I wanted to contribute an original dessert item for a friend's baby shower, so I hunted high and low until this idea crossed my path: Baby Rattle Cupcakes!

The recipe I found used regular-size cupcakes, but I opted for mini-cupcakes instead because I think they are cuter and more inviting for guests to eat. Plus, a 3-bite mini-cupcake has less guilt associated with it than a full cupcake.

After chatting with the momma-to-be, we decided that two flavors of cupcakes for all 25 guests would work well. I bought chocolate and yellow cake mixes with chocolate frosting for both flavors.

Here's what you need, in addition to the cake mix ingredients:

- Lollipop sticks (found in baking aisle at Michael's or craft store)
- Toothpick or BBQ skewer (not pictured)
- Gumdrops for base of rattle
- Cupcake decorations (Sprinkles were an easy choice)
- Cute mini-cupcake baking cups that add to the theme (bottom left)
- Ribbon for bows (Two different colors for the two different flavors)

Directions:

Mix cupcake batter ingredients together, as directed on the box. (Or upgrade the mix with Ellie's Enhanced Cake Formula.)

Use a tablespoon to scoop batter into mini-cupcake pans. Below left is two pans of 24 mini-cupcakes. One box of cake mix = 50 mini-cupcakes!

Cook at 350 degrees for 13-15 minutes. (The cooking time for mini-cupcakes might not be stated on the cake box.)

Cool cupcakes in pan for 10 minutes. Then move all mini-cupcakes to cooling rack and allow them to sit for about 15 minutes.

While the cupcakes are cooling, cut ribbons for the bows. I used 10" ribbon strands in order to tie them easily, then cut off any added length. Next, add a gumdrop to one side of lollipop stick.

I used the ribbons to signify the cupcake flavors: orange ribbons for the yellow cake mix and brown ribbon for the chocolate cake mix. The gumdrops are random colors for fun.

Now we're gonna jump ahead a few steps. After cooling, frosting and decorating the cupcakes, take a toothpick or BBQ skewer to poke the side of each cupcake. This is the hole that the lollipop stick will go into. (Poking with the lollipop stick doesn't work too well...)

Then put in the lollipop sticks, complete with bows and gumdrops, and there you are - all finished with a selection of Sweet Lil' Baby Rattle Cupcakes!

Tip: The rattle handles on these cupcakes are heavy, so they had to sit on a surface and not hang off an edge. If you need a display that takes up less counter space and allows people to see the cupcakes, next week I'll share how to make an easy custom display! A great project for kids to help with, too.