liquids, such as oil, milk, water, etc (as listed on back of box)
2cans vanilla frosting
red and royal blue gel food coloring
white nonpareils or star sprinkles
Instructions
Prepare box cake according to the instructions on the back of the cake mix box. Bake 48 cupcakes then cool completely on wire racks. Remove cupcake liners when cupcakes are completely cooled.
Empty all of the frosting into a large bowl.
Remove 1/4 of the frosting and place it in a separate bowl. Starting with a small amount, add blue gel food coloring to the smaller bowl and stir until combined. Add small amounts of food coloring if needed, to achieve the desired color. Set aside.
Now divide the remaining white frosting in half so that you have two separate bowls of white. To one of the bowls add red gel food coloring and stir until combined. Add small amounts of red food coloring if needed, to achieve the desired color. Set aside.
Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes (12 blue, 16 red, 20 white). Immediately add white sprinkles to the blue cupcakes before the frosting begins to dry.
Using a large tray or jelly roll pan, arrange cupcakes in the shape of the American flag.EXPERT TIP - Our cake board measures approximately 20-inches x 15-inches. The one we have linked above will work! Check craft stores, party stores, and the cake decorating aisle. You might even be able to visit a local bakery and see if they have one and will sell it to you.ROW 1 : 4 blue, 4 redROW 2 : 4 blue, 4 whiteROW 3 : 4 blue, 4 redROW 4 : 8 whiteROW 5 : 8 redROW 6 : 8 white
Notes
Do not use liquid food coloring for this recipe. You would need far too much liquid coloring to achieve the desired color, and it may not even be possible as they are not as vibrant as gel. The other issue is that the amount of liquid coloring needed would thin out your frosting making it too runny. Not to mention the taste will be affected. Gel food coloring provides vibrant colors and you only need a small amount to get there!
You can use any flavor of boxed cake mix that makes you happy. We are using white cake mix so as not to take away from the design of the cupcakes. Darker cakes show through the liners but it is not a deal breaker!