Let’s be honest here……..is there anything more exciting than the sight of cupcakes????

<center>https://s19.postimg.org/mhtgb20oj/Almond_Vanilla_Bean_Easter_Nest_Cupcakes_4.jpg</center>

Well, okay maybe there are just one or two things in life that hold a bit more weight and therefore top cupcakes if we’re being serious. However, at the moment nothing is coming to mind. Cupcakes = Happiness

<center>https://s19.postimg.org/ctg07x5v7/Almond_Vanilla_Bean_Easter_Nest_Cupcakes_8.jpg</center>

I’m sorry, I just can’t get over how surprised I was to find that something as simple as baking cupcakes could be enough to brighten a bad day. Due to traveling and being sick recently I haven’t made them in months, (that’s like forever in cupcake years!) I know, I’m obsessed with baking, you don’t even have to tell me. Hey, but it’s like what I’ve said countless times before, “Baking is cheaper than therapy.”

<center>https://s19.postimg.org/5eqofjjzn/Almond_Vanilla_Bean_Easter_Nest_Cupcakes_7.jpg</center>

Anyway, these cupcakes are very basic and simple, but don’t mistake that as meaning plain and boring because they’re anything but. I used my all time favorite vanilla cake recipe and adapted into these almond cupcakes for a fun Easter themed recipe. I topped them with Jordan almonds and some chocolate sprinkles for an instant “nest” topper. Truthfully it’s one of the laziest ways ever to top a cupcake. but I thought they were pretty cute regardless.

<center>https://s19.postimg.org/pamnv310z/Almond_Vanilla_Bean_Easter_Nest_Cupcakes_6.jpg</center>


So I was looking for the perfect egg shaped candies to put on them as toppers but I couldn’t find the kind I was looking for because, as I was saying last week when I shared those malt brownies, it can be difficult to find certain things here in Chile. Actually, the funniest thing happened a few days ago while we were at the mall that is a perfect example to prove my point. We were at a frozen yogurt shop and my mom got so excited when she realized they had malted milk balls in their topping options. She asked the employee who was working there if she knew where we could find them and the employee smiled encouragingly in reply and said (in Spanish) “Yeah of course, the United States.” Haha, it was totally one of those wah-wah-wah moments.

<center>https://s19.postimg.org/6kuoec8ab/Almond_Vanilla_Bean_Easter_Nest_Cupcakes_3.jpg</center>

So I was looking for the perfect egg shaped candies to put on them as toppers but I couldn’t find the kind I was looking for because, as I was saying last week when I shared those malt brownies, it can be difficult to find certain things here in Chile. Actually, the funniest thing happened a few days ago while we were at the mall that is a perfect example to prove my point. We were at a frozen yogurt shop and my mom got so excited when she realized they had malted milk balls in their topping options. She asked the employee who was working there if she knew where we could find them and the employee smiled encouragingly in reply and said (in Spanish) “Yeah of course, the United States.” Haha, it was totally one of those wah-wah-wah moments.

<center>https://s19.postimg.org/mx4q42mlv/Almond_Vanilla_Bean_Easter_Nest_Cupcakes_2.jpg</center>

<h1>RECIPE</h1>

Yield: about 12 cupcakes

**Ingredients**

**Cupcakes:**
3 egg whites
2/3 cup milk
1/3 cup oil
1/3 cup (about 6 tablespoons) butter
1 1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups flour

**Frosting:**
5 cups powdered sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, room temp
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons milk

Optional Toppings:
Chocolate sprinkles
Jordan almonds
Instructions

**Cupcakes:**
1.   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 C) and grease a 12-count cupcake pan with oil or line with cupcake liners. Pour egg whites into bowl of stand mixer and beat until they form stiff peaks (it should take about 5 minutes). In separate bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add all other ingredients and mix until smooth.
2.  Now gently fold in the stiff egg whites into the batter just until evenly combined. Divide batter into the cupcake slots as evenly as possible. Bake for 22 - 28 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and edges are lightly golden. 3. 
 3.  Remove the cupcakes from oven and cool completely before frosting.

**For Frosting:**
1.  Beat butter in a large mixing bowl until creamed. Add vanilla, salt, and powdered sugar one cup at a time. Add milk beat until light and fluffy. Add more milk as needed for frosting consistency.

**For Frosting:**
1.  Beat butter in a large mixing bowl until creamed. Add vanilla and almond extract, salt, and powdered sugar one cup at a time. Add milk beat until light and fluffy. You may need to add more milk as needed for frosting consistency to be light and fluffy.

**Assemble:**
1.  Fit a piping bag with a large round or star tip and fill with the frosting. Pipe frosting as desired onto cupcakes and decorate with chocolate sprinkles and Jordan almonds as desired.


<center>https://s19.postimg.org/knjlb8xrn/steemit_std_coll_404_small.jpg</center>
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