Posted on by Tara

Recipe: Nerd Cupcakes

Nerd Cupcake 1

If you are what you eat, I should have made these a long time ago.

Nerd Cupcake 2

These tart lemon cupcakes have bursts of Nerd flavor as you bite into them. The frosting is a buttercream flavored with a bit of Tropical Punch Kool-Aid liquid. It’s fruity and delicious, whether or not you consider yourself a nerd. Best of all? They’re pretty ridiculously easy to make.

Nerd Cupcakes

Ingredients:

  • Box of Lemon Cake Mix
  • Ingredients listed on the cake mix box (usually oil, water, and eggs)
  • A box of Rainbow Nerds (about 1/2 cup)

Directions:

Preheat the oven per the cake box instructions. Line 24 cupcake cups with wrappers.

Mix together the cake mix and the ingredients listed on the back of the box.

Once it’s fully mixed, fold the Nerds into the cake batter.

Fill the cupcake wrappers 2/3 full with the cupcake batter.

Bake according to instructions on the back of the box, or until cupcakes are golden and a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean.

Let cupcakes cool on a baking rack while you prepare the frosting.

Tropical Punch Buttercream

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups (6 sticks) of unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • 6 cups of powdered sugar
  • 1 TBS Tropical Punch Kool-Aid Liquid (comes in a tiny squeezable container)

Directions:

Place the butter in a mixer and mix until light, smooth, and fluffy.

Add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing in between each cup.

Using a spatula, scrape the sides and the mixer and mix again until butter and sugar are fully mixed.

Add the Kool-Aid liquid and mix on low until incorporated.

Mix at a higher speed for a couple minutes until frosting has an even consistency and appears light and fluffy.

Add more Kool-Aid to taste, mix thoroughly.

Using a large pastry tip, frost the cooled cupcakes. Top with more Rainbow Nerds.

Enjoy!

 

Posted on by Tara

DIY Push-Up Pops

Push Up Pop Pic

Remember Push-Up Pops? Now remember the “Pebble” Push-Up Pops with nerds inside? I grew up on these things. It wasn’t summer if these weren’t in the freezer. I started getting a hankering for them over the last couple weeks, and realized how ridiculously easy it would be to make them myself. Presenting: DIY Push-Up Pops!

Ingredients:

  • Push Pop Containers (Around $1 a piece from Amazon. They’re reusable and can be used for all sorts of cool projects!)
  • Sherbet in the flavors of your choice (I used orange and lime)
  • Rainbow Nerds (often found in the “movie candy” section of the stores)

Directions:

  • Allow the sherbet to thaw slightly so it can be mixed.
  • Mix (by hand or on a slow setting in a mixer) the Rainbow Nerds and sherbet in a large bowl.
  • Spoon the mixture into the push pop container, and place the lid on.
  • Return the push-up pops to the freezer and let chill for at least an hour.
  • Enjoy!

See? So easy. So delicious. But be careful, they melt quickly! Better eat them all now.

What was your favorite summer treat when growing up?