Sailing Chocolate Cupcake

I had to evacuate everyone from my kitchen to save these cupcakes until I had plenty of pictures taken. They were all gone in a flash. The cup cakes were very moist with well balanced flavors. Of course the decorations put them over the top!
These cup cakes are the perfect answer in a pinch. How many times have you heard " Oh mom I forgot, I am supposed to bring cupcakes tomorrow."
I have used a box mix for these cupcakes with my own added ingredients that made them taste much better.



 

1 Box of regular double chocolate cake mix

Follow the instructions for cupcakes replacing the oil with the same amount of Smart Balance
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt

Cupcake baking pan

Cupcake liners

For the frosting I added a few drops of Creme DE Menthe, pearl sprinkles and food coloring.  The flavoring is very concentrated so don't over do it.
For the raspberry cupcake I just added the food coloring, sprinkles and a fresh raspberry.

3 cloth napkins (you can use one napkin, but the entire boat will be the same color. I wanted red, white, and blue for a July 4th theme.

Paper clips or safety pins.

 

Set out all the ingredients for the cake. Remember to omit the oil and add Smart Balance instead. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice. The Smart Balance will add moisture to the cake while the salt and the lemon will cut back on the sweetness and balance the flavors.

Mix according to the directions

Fill the muffin pans

Bake

Remove from oven

Cool before frosting

 

Add a few drops of the mint to the frosting. This is one single thing you can do to make bought frosting taste like homemade.  You can also add fresh fruit.  You could drizzle chocolate over the raspberry to give the cake a different flavor. 

You can add the coloring and sprinkles if you like.

Frost the cupcake and decorate it.

Now for the fun part.

 

If you want a solid color boat use 1 cloth napkin.  Two colors 2 etc. 


Lay all the napkins on top of each other,  the bottom layer will become the boat section. 
Fold the napkin in half.
Fold in half again and turn the open edges at the top.
Fold each side down to form a cone shape as shown.
Turn over.
Fold the bottom point up.
Turn over.
Pinch the two sides together and pin it to secure it.
Pull back the open edges as shown.

That is it!  Your boat is made.

Now place the cupcake in the boat and hide it until it is supposed to be eaten. 

I have made a couple of boats using less colors to give you an idea what they look like.