Thanksgiving Cupcakes

My daughter-in-law made these cupcakes last year for a family occasion in which we were giving thanks. No kidding! There are other days in which to give thanks! But since we are nearing the actual Thanksgiving holiday in the USA, I thought I'd post these now. I found out, after the fact, that this is a Betty Crocker idea, however the cupcake recipe is an old family favorite, I posted a while back. I will post it again for convenience.

Ingredients:

• 3/4  cup sugar 
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cup oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 4 tablespoons baking cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Method:

1. Mix sugar and eggs well, gradually beating in the oil, then the buttermilk and vanilla.
2. Stir in combined dry ingredients. Sift if the cocoa is lumpy.
3. Fill paper-lined muffin tins 3/4 full. Makes 12 large or 18 medium sized cupcakes. 
4. Bake at 350° F for 20 min. Remove to cooling rack.

Frosting and Decor:

• 1/4 cup butter, soft
• 2 cups icing (confectioners) sugar
• 3 tablespoons baking cocoa, sifted
• 4 - 5 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• corn candy
• chocolate sprinkles
• candy for eyes, optional

Method:

1. In a small deep bowl, beat butter, sugar and cocoa with wooden spoon until smooth.
2. Add milk and vanilla, stirring until smooth.
3. Spread cupcakes using a butter knife. Add chocolate sprinkles.
4. Add a little more confectioner's sugar to the leftover frosting to firm it up a bit and, using a piping bag or small zip-lock with a hole cut in the corner, pipe the heads for the turkeys.
5. Add corn candy for feathered tails and beaks.