We're here with the ultimate St. Patrick's Day dessert! We know you're gonna love our GREEN VELVET CUPCAKE RECIPE.  This cupcake pairs rich GREEN velvet cupcakes with towering rainbow buttercream.

PRO TIP:  Bake these babies in gold cupcake wrappers for a dessert that will make everyone think you're Irish!  You're not gettin' pinched this year! 

INGREDIENTS

For the Green Velvet Cake:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 ¾ cups sugar

• 1 ½ cups vegetable oil

• 2 eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 ounce green gel food coloring

• 1 cup buttermilk

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

• Gold cupcake wrappers

For the Rainbow Buttercream:

• 1 cup vegetable shortening

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 8 cups confectioners’ sugar

• ¼ – ½ cup heavy cream

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Gel Food Coloring (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple)

• 6 disposable piping bags

• 6 large round piping tips

INSTRUCTIONS

Make the Green Velvet Cupcakes:

1. Preheat your oven to 350F degrees and line muffin pans with cupcake liners.

2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder and salt. Whisk until well combined.

3. In bowl of stand mixer, combine sugar and vegetable oil, and beat on medium until well combined.

4. Add eggs to the sugar and oil mixture and beat well after each, scraping down the sides of bowl.

5. Add the vanilla and green food coloring, and mix well.

6. Alternate adding the flour mixture and buttermilk and scrape down sides of the bowl as necessary.

7. Combine baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl (it will foam). Pour into batter and mix for about 10 seconds.

8. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full with batter.

9. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

10. Let cupcakes cool in pans for 5 minutes, then remove from pan to wire racks to finish cooling.

Make the Rainbow Buttercream:

1. In bowl of stand mixer, combine shortening and butter and beat on medium speed until creamy - about 3 minutes.

2. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar - 2 cups at a time - and mix well, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.

3. Add heavy cream as needed until you reach the desired consistency.

4. Mix in the vanilla.

5. Separate icing into 6 different bowls and tint with rainbow colors. (use the following amounts of icing to make each colors: purple = 2 cups, blue = 1 1/2 cups, green = 1 cup, yellow = 3/4 cup, orange = 1/2 cup, red = 1/4 cup)

6. Place frosting in piping bags fitted with large round tips.

7. Starting with the purple pipe a circle of frosting on the bottom, then move to the blue, then green, etc. until you have used all the colors to create a rainbow.

Planning to whip these up soon?  Tag us on Instagram @ellenjaysweets so we can share your love for baking!!!