Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Somebody in my house turned 26 recently and a party was in order.  We invited our friends over for drinks and snacks before heading out to the bars in Uptown.  I knew that cupcakes or cake were a must.  However, I also wanted something that wasn't too messy or too fussy so people could easy grab and eat while chatting.  I settled on these ice cream cone cupcakes which are my friend Kelly's specialty.  They were quite the hit!  I was surprised by the number of people at the party who had never had these before.  


Here is the recipe I used.  It can also be found on the side of many cake cone boxes.


Ingredients:
1 box of funfetti cake mix (or your mix of choice)
1 box of cake cones
Frosting of your choice (either the store bought or recipe below)


Directions:
- Follow the recipe on the cake mix box
- Place 12 cake cones in a muffin tin
- Fill each cone 3/4 full with cake mix
- Bake at 350 for 18-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean
- Immediately take baked cupcakes out of the muffin tin and place them on a cooling rack. This prevents   the cones from getting soggy
- Repeat the filling/baking process until all your cake mix has been used


Frosting
- Once cupcakes are completely cool it is time to frost them
- If you bought store bought just spread it on ;)

Or

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of butter (1 stick), room temperature
1 package of Philly cream cheese (low fat is fine), room temperature
2 - 3 cups of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

-With an electric mixer, mix the butter and cream cheese together, about 3 minutes on medium speed until very smooth. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure even mixing.

- Add the vanilla extract and mix. Slowly add the powdered sugar. Keep adding until you get to desired sweetness and thickness.

- Either spread on with a blunt knife or spatula, or spoon into a piping bag to decorate your cupcake

Place cones in muffin tin cups and fill 3/4 full

Bake at 350 for 18-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean

Once cupcakes are completely cool, frost, decorate, and place animal print candle in the center.    Now, sing happy birthday and celebrate!