Surprise!

No, fo’ reals. 

This is no April Fool’s.

Practice your toilet -paper-wedding-dress-making skills, save those present bows, and grab a glass of champagne because today we’re surprising Julie, the author of Table for Two with a {virtual} Bridal Shower!

 

Julie, who is two-snaps around the world, is getting hitched in a few weeks! So, in honor of her upcoming nuptials a few other fellow food blogger ladies are toasting the soon-to-be Mrs. Jason Wampler with a few sweet and savory treats.

Now, given that Julie is the take-out-fake-out queen (have you tried her version of Mongolian Beef? It’s beyond delish), I thought it would be best to leave the take-out-fake-out title with her. Instead, I felt I needed to whip up something sweet. Something sweet and purple-y. Part of the reason Julie and I are friends is the fact that we both love Chipotle, Kate Spade handbags, yoga pants, and the color purple! What more could you want in a friendship?

So, I’d figured I would pay homage to our favorite color of “royalty” and bake some classic vanilla cupcakes with purple buttercream frosting. You can’t beat a vanilla cupcake. It’s one of those tried and true things in a foodie’s life. Now, the purple buttercream. I was so excited to make this purple buttercream, I started doing cartwheels in the kitchen. Warning, if you do cartwheels in your kitchen, you will only do one. Trust me.  Not only was a I super pumped about the purple buttercream, I fell in love with all the fun decorations. It’s a purple party, y’all!

Happy {virtual} Briday Shower, Julie!

Enjoy your treats and years of happiness ahead! xoxo

Megan {Country Cleaver} –> PNW Smoked Salmon Crostini

Rachel {Rachel Cooks} –> Easy Cappuccino Mousse Cups

Cassie {Bake Your Day} –> Confetii Popcorn

Erin {Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts} –> Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

Tara {Chip Chip Hooray} –> Butterscotch Biscoff Chunk Blondies

Rachel {Baked By Rachel} –> Chocolate Eclairs with White Chocolate Drizzle

Ali {Gimme Some Oven} –> Chicken Enchilada Cups

Kathryn {London Bakes} –> Spring Onion and Parmesan Mini Quiche

Carla {Carla’s Confections } –> Blueberry Bliss Cocktail

Claire (The Realistic Nutritionist} –> Chicken Salad Crostinis

{Oh, aaaand . . .this is where we tell you that if a cop shows up at your work and tries to ticket you for being “too hot”, we take no responsibility.}

Print Recipe

Vanilla Cupcakes with Purple Buttercream Frosting

Yield: Makes 12 regular sized cupcakes

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes

Ingredients:

for the cupcakes:
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cups whole milk
12 cupcake liners

for the buttercream frosting:
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
6 to 7 drops purple food coloring

Directions:

for the cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar. Add an egg, one at a time, making sure they are well combined. Add in vanilla. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet in thirds. In between each third, pour in the milk until everything is well combined.

Take a 12 cup muffin tin and line with cupcake liners. Take an ice cream scoop, and scoop batter into each liner filling about 3/4 of the way full. Bake for about 18 to 20 minutes, or until the a took pick comes out clean.

for the buttercream frosting:
In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla. Combine until fluffy. Add food color until you get the desired color of purple. Frost those cupcakes!!!

cupcake recipe from Cooks.com
buttercream frosting recipe from Brown Eyed Baker

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