Go team! Root for your favorite sport with a triple play of easy-to-decorate cupcakes. Colorful sprinkles are used to simulate the bumpy or fuzzy textures of sports balls, on top of which the “seams” are either piped with buttercream or drawn with licorice laces. Make one type of ball or all three; you will need one batch of Swiss meringue buttercream (page 304) to decorate two dozen cupcakes in any design. Once decorated, cupcakes can be stored up to one day at room temperature in airtight containers.

　　

Ingredients

makes 24 per recipe

　　

Home Run Cupcakes

Step 1

Tint 1 cup buttercream dark red with gel-paste food color, and transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a small plain tip (#3). Place white round candy sprinkles (nonpareils) in a small bowl. Using an offset spatula, spread a smooth layer of untinted buttercream over each cupcake. Dip each frosted cupcake in sprinkles, rolling it around to coat completely. Pipe two red curved lines on each cupcake for the seams, then pipe short lines angled off both sides of curved lines to mimic small stitches. Refrigerate 30 minutes to allow frosting to set.

　　

Match Point Cupcakes

Step 2

Transfer 1 cup untinted buttercream to a pastry bag fitted with a small plain tip (#6). Place long yellow candy sprinkles in a small bowl. Using an offset spatula, spread a smooth layer of buttercream over each cupcake. Dip each frosted cupcake in sprinkles, rolling it around to coat completely. Pipe two white curved lines on each cupcake for the seams. Refrigerate 30 minutes to allow frosting to set.

　　

Slam Dunk Cupcakes

Step 3

Place orange round candy sprinkles (nonpareils) in a small bowl. Using an offset spatula, spread a smooth layer of untinted buttercream over each cupcake. Dip each frosted cupcake in sprinkles, rolling it around to coat completely. Cut 96 lengths (each about 3 inches) from licorice laces. Arrange three laces parallel to each other on each cupcake, one straight across the middle and the outer laces curved toward the edge. Lay a fourth piece in crosswise fashion over the other laces. Gently press licorice into frosting to adhere. Refrigerate 30 minutes to allow frosting to set.

　　Martha Stewart's Cupcakes