Loved It! DIY Ombre Cupcakes

I don't know about you, but for me when the weather is cold and rainy all I want to do is stay inside and bake.  But if I bake for myself it gets to be an issue.  An issue between my pants and my thighs.  So I love to bake for others.  Few things say "I love you" better than a baked good.  And, when baking for a loved one, presentation is key.  (ok, lets be real... presentation is key when baking for other women...weddings, bridal showers, baby showers or even just a gift for a bff. my husband is digesting the baked good before he realizes it was ever pretty.) I think these ombre cupcakes are adorable.  They take a little more time but I think the cuteness makes it worth the effort.  

You'll need:

1. White cake mix (plus whatever ingredients the mix calls for)

2. Frosting of your choice

3. Food coloring

4. cupcake liners

5. Sprinkles of your choice (optional)

First prepare the cake mix according to directions.  Then separate the mix into 4 equal amounts in different bowls. (i just eyeballed it)  Start with the lightest color. I wanted to do coral so I put 2 drops of red and 1 yellow in the first bowl.  Keep adding more food coloring drops to each bowl until you get the desired shade. Pour the mixes into the cupcake liners and bake according to directions. Your cupcakes may look something like this before they go into the oven...

Allow your cupcakes to cool completely.  (also I found that the cupcakes were easier to work with if the frosting was cold)  Using a serrated edged knife cut the cupcakes into about 3 layers each.  Then, starting with the lightest color build your cupcake by piping frosting on top of each layer as a sort of mortar between layers. It also helps to build your cupcake in a new liner sheet to hold it together. Top with whatever sprinkles you like. (or cut a shape out of the cupcake scraps and use that as a topper) 

enjoy!