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Hydrangea Flower Carrot Cake Cupcakes!

Because your Tuesday needs a good cupcake, and because Easter is this Sunday, and because I just could not wait to share these with you. I mean, do you see how cute these are? Of course, they taste great too, but I’m not going to lie, their cuteness is what has me so excited.

So you guys…I’m sure you have noticed, but I love flowers. The older I get, the more I love them. And the more I love having them in my house! This may sound so stupid, but they bring my mood up almost instantly. I figure if flowers can do that for me than they are worth the money spent to buy them for the blog. Don’t try and tell me otherwise.

For as much as I love having flowers in my house, I think I love using them in my photography even more. Anytime it makes sense to incorporate edible flowers into my recipes, I do.

Today’s cupcake however, do not involve any kind of edible flowers. But, they have been decorated to look like flowers. Hydrangeas to be precise. Don’t you see it? Come on now, they look like Hydrangeas, right?

If you think they don’t, just lie to me and say you agree!

Just kidding…

In all seriousness whether you feel these cupcakes look like a hydrangea flower or not, they are still fun and delicious, and the perfect spring cupcake. Just looking at them makes feel a little more cheerful inside, which I think we could all use a bit more of these days.

My mom sent me this video of a very brave high school student confronting her classmates during a gun control walk out. If you have yet to see this video, please go watch it now. It’s so empowering and she sends one very simple, but very important message.

“…be nice, and care, and love each other. It’s not hard!”

It’s the golden rule our parent’s taught us. So let’s try to incorporate her message into our daily lives. Try to go a little out of your way to say hello to a new person, listen to someone who might need an ear, help a neighbor bring in groceries. If you have kids, talk to them about accepting other’s differences, and that even the simplest act of kindness can go a very long way.

Bake up some of these cupcakes (or whatever you enjoy making) and gift a few away…a neighbor, a friend, your mom, another mom, or even a complete stranger on the street, it truly is as simple as that. Just do something nice for someone today. Trust me, it’s going to make someone’s day, and probably yours too.

OK. Now some carrot cake cupcake details.

The base of these cupcakes is carrot cake, which is so very traditional around this time of year. What I love about them is that the cake is moist, soft, extra fluffy, and extra sweet. I have found most carrot cake recipes to be on the denser side, so I love that this recipe is light and airy, as cupcakes should be.

For the frosting, I kept things semi traditional with a mascarpone based frosting that I tinted with both freeze-dried strawberries and raspberries. I used the fruit mostly for coloring purposes, but they do add a slight fruity flavor to the frosting, which I think pairs nicely with the carrot cake.

The best part about these cupcakes? They are SO EASY. Yes, I promise! I know that piping a floral arrangement on top of a cupcake might seem hard, but it’s truly just a matter of using a star piping tip and applying a little pressure to your piping bag. If you can draw a line with a bag of frosting, you can make this cupcake design. I promise.

Originally, I had these in mind for Easter this Sunday, but as I mentioned above, I really think they should be made and gifted away as an act of kindness. It might seem like a stupid or silly thing, but I know for a fact, whoever is on the receiving end will greatly appreciate one of these sweet cupcakes. Of course doubling the recipe is an even better idea. Then you’ll have plenty to gift and plenty to enjoy. Because Easter just is not complete without a little carrot cake.

The happiest (most delicious) cupcake there ever was!