THREE-TIER WEDDING CUPCAKE

Buttercream lovers rejoice! Combine tradition with a bit of fun by serving individual 3-tiered cupcakes at your wedding or next party.

Three-Tier Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350˚F

Makes 12 tiered cupcakes (12 of each cupcake size); or makes 15 large, 33 standard, or 108 mini

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

2 large eggs plus 1 large yolk

1 1/4 cups warm water

1 1/4 cups buttermilk

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Pink gel-paste food coloring

Line muffin tins with paper liners. In a mixer bowl, sift flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add eggs, yolk, water, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla; beat together.

Divide batter among liners, filling about 2/3 full. Bake until deep golden brown, about 30 minutes for large, 25 minutes for standard, and 22 minutes for mini. Transfer tins to rack to cool for about 15 minutes. Remove from tins; let cool completely.

To assemble: Divide buttercream in thirds (3 cups for bottom tiers, 2 for middle, and 1 for top); color each in a different pink. Using a dab of buttercream between layers as "glue," stack the cupcakes. Using a U-shaped petal tip (such as Ateco No. 80), pipe petals around outside of each layer, and continue inward.

{via Martha Stewart}