M & M Cupcakes

My little dude turned a week ago ... and he still is my little dude. He managed to hold onto the 25th percentile for weight at his 2-year checkup. Meanwhile, his baby brother at his 2-month checkup, is off the charts for both weight and height. Seriously, his dots are above the graph lines on the charts. Guess that's what happens when you weigh 16 lb. 2.5 oz. at 2 months, which is more than his older brother weighed at 6 months.

Anyways, enough about my boys, aside from the fact that my little dude loves M & Ms and Mickey. When I found these cupcakes on Cookies and Cups, I knew they'd be perfect for his birthday celebration. The kids loved the little Mickey faces I made with M & Ms. My husband loved the frosting. My sister-in-law, who doesn't like chocolate cake, loved the cupcake. This is an all-around crowd pleaser. My only complaint was my cupcakes didn't dome nicely, but that was covered by a mound of frosting.

M & M Cupcakes
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup hot water
Frosting
1 cup butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 cup M & M candies, blended to a coarse dust

Preheat oven to 350° F. Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Set aside.

Cream butter and sugar together in stand mixer, beating until light, 1 to 2 minutes. Add in egg and vanilla, and mix until smooth.

In microwave or over a double boiler, melt the milk chocolate. Stir the chocolate into the butter mixture.

Add the flour mixture and sour cream in alternating increments, starting and ending with the flour mixture. Stir until combined. Slowly add in hot water and stir until smooth.

Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full, and bake 15 to 17 minutes until tops are set and spring back to the touch. Cool completely on a wire rack.

To make the frosting, blend M & M candies until they are a coarse dust. In bowl of stand mixer, beat butter until smooth. Slowly add in powdered sugar, and then beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Mix in crushed M & Ms, and beat until evenly incorporated. Pipe or spread onto cupcakes. Makes 15 cupcakes.