Oreo Sunflower Cupcakes - Mother's Day Desserts

For the succulent cupcakes you hold the tip at a slight angle, but for these sunflower cupcakes be sure to hold the tip completely horizontal to create sunflower petals.

Ingredients

• 1 box vanilla cake mix, plus ingredients called for on box
• 1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 6 c. powdered sugar
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• Pinch kosher salt
• 1/4 c. heavy cream
• Yellow food coloring
• 9 mini Oreos, cremes removed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350° and line two muffin tins with cupcake liners. Prepare vanilla cake batter according to package instructions and divide between cupcake liners. Bake according to package instructions. Let cool completely.
2. Meanwhile make buttercream: In a large bowl using a hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, beat butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and beat until combined, then add vanilla, heavy cream, and salt and beat until combined. 
3. Divide buttercream into two separate bowls and using yellow food coloring, dye one bowl yellow. Add white buttercream to a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe buttercream onto cupcakes then top each with an Oreo half.
4. Add yellow buttercream to a pastry bag fitted with a small leaf tip. Starting slightly off the the edge of the Oreo, pipe petals around the Oreo. Move to the edge the Oreo and pipe a second layer of petals, slightly overlapping the first layer.