Miss Boston Princess Party & Funfetti Cupcakes

Last weekend was the big Miss Boston/Cambridge Pageant, and it was a crazy busy one for me! On Saturday, I helped out with the Princess portion where we threw a little party for the younger girls who appeared in Sunday's pageant. There were arts and crafts, mani-pedis and lots of rehearsing for the pageant! I also set up a DIY cupcake bar for the girls with freshly baked homemade funfetti cupcakes, vanilla buttercream, candy and little crowns for toppers and helped them decorate their own cupcakes to bring home. It was such a fun experience and I thought I'd share some of the photos with you! :) Click through for the recipes as well.

the girls loved my sparkly jacket - they kept asking if they could touch it!

Funfetti Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream

makes 24 cupcakes

for the cupcakes...

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 3/4 cup rainbow sprinkles or non-pareils

1. preheat your oven to 350F and line 2 cupcake tins with 24 liners.
2. in a large bowl, whisk together hte flour, baking powder and salt.
3. in the bowl of your stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
4. reduce speed to medium and add the eggs, one at the time, beating well after each addition.
5. add the vanilla extract.
6. reduce speed to low and add the dry mixture in 3 parts, alternating with the milk in halves. mix each until just incorporated.
7. reduce speed to stir and add the sprinkles.
8. fill up each liner 3/4 way full and bake cupcakes for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

for the buttercream...

• 4 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 6-8 cups confectioner's sugar

1. beat the butter on high speed until light.
2. add the vanilla extract.
3. add the confectioner's sugar, one cup at a time, until the frosting becomes nice and thick.