Recipe of the Day --- Monster Cupcakes

• So it's fall...which means bake-a-thon season for mama MJ. Today's recipe is for super cute monster cupcakes. Nothing compares to from-scratch cake and frosting! ENJOY!
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• White Cake

• 1/2 cup water
• 4 ounces white confectioners coating or vanilla chips
• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs, separated
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup flaked coconut
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Directions

In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Remove from the heat; stir in confectionery coating until melted. Cool for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg yolks; mix well. Beat in coating and vanilla. Combine flour and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Mix well. Stir in the coconut. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into the batter. Separate batter into bowls, the number of bowls depending on how many colors of batter you want. I usually make green, blue, yellow and orange cake batter. Line cupcake pans. Fill cupcake liners with the various colors of batter. Get creative...it's never wrong to have a mash of colors make up one cool cupcake! Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Icing

1 & 1/2 lbs Sweetex Shortening
1/2 lb White Oleo or its also called White Margarine (Room tempature)
4 lbs Powdered Sugar
3/4 Cup Water
2 tsp. Vanilla extract (white vanilla)

In large mixer beat Sweetex and Oleo until blended well. Slowly add while mixing on low Water and Vanilla and beat well. Slowly add while mixing on low to med powdered sugar. Beat until icing has a smooth non grainy texture (until Sugar is mixed well) Separate frosting and dye to whatever colors you wish. I've added a photo of my cupcakes as a reference.

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