Do you do Elf on the Shelf in your house? We were doing Elf on the Shelf in my home before it even was a thing. It all started with an elf that had been in my family since before I was born. I can’t remember a Christmas without him. One day he’d be sitting in the Christmas tree, the next he’d be perched by my breakfast plate, and another time, he’d be sitting on my bed. That was pretty much it. He just seemed to disappear and reappear in various places around the house and it was always fun coming home from school or waking up in the morning to search the house and see where he was this time.
When my daughter was little, of course this elf began making an appearance once more. He would move around from spot to spot as if by magic and sometimes leave little treats behind for her. If she had remembered to make her bed that day, he might appear on her bed with a new Christmas book for her. If she had done a good job with remembering to brush her teeth, she’d probably find him in the bathroom with a brand new toothbrush (with some fun design on it). It wasn’t as elaborate as I’ve seen it get these days (though goodness knows that does look like fun) – I mean, back then, who would have known that there’d be a book and a movie and whole Pinterest boards filled with elf ideas?
So, here’s another fun Elf on the Shelf idea. Bake some yummy cupcakes using your favourite recipe, the delicious recipe below, use a boxed mix or buy some premade cupcakes and turn them into Elf on the Shelf cupcakes with these adorable decorations.
Elf on the Shelf Chocolate Cupcake Recipe
2 cups of sugar
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
½ cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup water
In medium bowl, mix sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
Mix in eggs, milk, water, vegetable oil, and vanilla.
Put into cupcake liners, 2/3 full.
Oven temperature: 350
Bake 25-35 minutes (checking at 25 minutes) or until toothpick placed in center comes out clean.
Cool on rack before frosting.
Buttercream Recipe
This recipe can easily frost 12 cupcakes
1/2 cup vegetable shortening (like Crisco)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar (approximately 1 lb.)
4 tablespoons water or milk
Mix ingredients with kitchen mixer until smooth.
Use more water (or milk) for thinner consistency
Pipe onto cupcakes
Now, if you know me very well, you’ll know that I am not very good at decorating cakes and cupcakes. But you don’t really need to be if you use this super cute Wilton Elf on the Shelf cupcake combo decorating kit. It’s only $4.99 at Amazon right now. Click below to be taken there if you’d like to purchase it (affiliate link).
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