Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature (1 1/2 sticks)
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups milk
Instructions:
- 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans with liners; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing until incorporated; scrape down sides of bowl, and beat in vanilla.
- 2. Add flour mixture and milk alternately, beginning and ending with flour. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl.
- 3. Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each about three-quarters full. Bake until tops spring back when touched, about 20 minutes, rotating pan once if needed. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan, and let cool completely on wire rack.
- 4. For the hat, score a circle in center of cupcake. Cut a cone with knife at an angle, rotating cupcake as you go. Using a wide round piping tip or a resealable plastic bag with one corner cut off, pipe buttercream into the cavity and on top for the head. Use gumdrops for the collar and a cinnamon candy for the nose; insert chocolate sprinkles for eyes. Use more buttercream and multicolored sprinkles to create a pom-pom for the hat.
