Christmas Peppermint Tie Dye Cupcakes

Your favorite Tie Dye Cupcake with a holiday twist!

Ingredients:

-Your favorite vanilla cake mix (white cake works too.. but it's a little to light & airy of a cake to handle the dye well... the texture came out a little off where there was no difference when using vanilla cake mix)

-Whatever other ingredients your cake mix calls for.. in my case eggs, water, and vegetable oil 

-Red & Green Food Coloring (I prefer Wilton's brand)
-Optional Red and Green sprinkles or edible flakes
-Candy Canes
-Pillsbury Vanilla Mint frosting

Step One: 

-Make the cake batter according the the directions on the box. 

-When the batter is completely blended and smooth, separate into two bowls o

-Slowly add dye to bowls. Remember, a little bit usually goes a long way so blend completely before deciding if more dye is needed. Also keep in mind that no one wants to bite into a bubble of dye so blend completely... and then blend even more.

Step Two:

-Line your tin with cupcake liners. 

-Layer spoonfuls of the red and green batter in each liner. The smaller the spoonfuls (and the more layers) -the more of a tie dye effect you'll get. 

-Fill liners 3/4 of the way (or whatever the recipe calls for)

-DO NOT try to swirl or mix the different colored batter! This will only make it turn a muddy greyish/ brown. LAYERING ONLY!!

Here you can see the layering progression: the bottom liner only has one layer with the top having four.

All Done!

-Step Three:

-Bake for as long as the recipe on the box calls for!

-Remember you added an ingredient (the dye) so a little extra baking time may be needed! Just be careful and keep an eye on your cupcakes!


Step Four:

-Decorate!

-After your cupcakes have cooled, ice them! I dirty- iced these cupcakes with a knife and canned vanilla mint frosting (beware: it is very minty). To top off the cupcakes I used edible red and green sparkle-flakes and crushed candy canes. I found the gingerbread man cupcake wrappers at Joann Fabrics.

Aren't they the sweetest?