RECIPE FOR CUPCAKES
(adapted from Bais Yaakov Cookbook)

6 eggs
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 tbsp vanilla sugar
1 cup orange juice
1 cup vegetable or canola oil
3 1/2 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place 24 standard muffin cups into muffin tins.

In a large bowl, whisk the egg and sugars. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until just combined. Pour into prepared muffin cups, filling until almost the top, leaving about 1/4" empty. Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until slightly golden around the edges and the top is set. Remove from oven and let cool before frosting.

RECIPE FOR BUTTERCREAM ICING
(adapted from Wilton)

1 cup solid white vegetable shortening (1 tub)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp milk or water
1 lb confectioner's sugar (1 box)
1 tbsp Wilton meringue powder
pinch of salt
food coloring

Cream shortening, vanilla extract and water. Add the dry ingredients and mix on medium speed until all ingredients have been thoroughly mixed together. Blend an additional minute or so until creamy. Add food coloring of your choice. I prefer the gel coloring since you don't need to use so much of it.

This is the basic recipe for buttercream frosting but in order to pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes we need to add some water. Add 1 tbsp water. Then, keep adding water by the teaspoonful until the right consistency is reached. You will know when you stick a spatula or knife straight down in the center of the bowl and it forms 1/2" peaks upon removal. It's easier to make icing thinner than thicker so go slowly.

ASSEMBLY

Fit a piping bag (or gallon size Ziploc bag with the end snipped off) with a Wilton 1M decorating tip. Fill with icing and slowly pipe around each cupcake, starting from the outside and working your way to the center. Top with chocolate lentils or any other candy/chocolate.

I like frosting mini cupcakes, like the ones in the picture above. The reasoning for that is because most of us don't like to bite into huge quantities of frosting, even if it tastes delicious. It's just too much. Mini cupcakes are just right, for kids and adults alike. Besides, it's more fun to eat two than one.