The 5th Day of Bloggy Christmas!

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On the 5th Day of Bloggy Christmas Miss Sheryl gave to me a Peppermint Christmas Candle Push Up Pop Centerpiece!

Hello, I'm Sheryl from Lady Behind the Curtain.  Merry Christmas to you! I am happy to be participating with a great group of ladies bringing you the 12 Days of Bloggy Christmas! Running from December 1st through the 12th! On Friday December 13th we will have a cookie exchange link party that you won't want to miss!

I am so excited to share this Peppermint Christmas Candle Push Up Pop Centerpiece with you. This centerpiece comes with hidden treasures. At a distance you can't tell there are cupcakes hidden within the pine. Surprise! There is! The push up pops are pushed into FloraCraft Dry Foam which is a lot softer than Styrofoam. The push up pops can easily be pulled from the arrangement. The lights are battery operated tea lights that I bought at The Dollar Tree {2 for $1.00}. Each tea light offers 120 hours of candlelight. NOTE: To protect the tea lights I outlined the tea lights onto parchment paper, cut around the inside of the circle and laid the circle on top of the frosting. You don't need to go out and purchase a wicker sleigh for the centerpiece. I used the sleigh because I already had it. You can use any shape. I think a long narrow centerpiece would be beautiful. Now push up pops can be purchased at Michael's, Target and some grocery stores {They are sold at my Safeway grocery store}. If you can't find them at a store you definitely can purchase them on the internet. CENTERPIECE SUPPLIES FloraCraft Dry Foam Container to serve as your centerpiece Greenery Assorted holiday picks Push Up Pops Cupcakes Parchment Paper Battery operated Tea Lights Directions Fill the container you have chosen to use with the foam. Because of the gradual height I had to stack my foam and secured them with small skewers. Once the foam is secure add the push up pops {empty} NOTE: Make sure the inside of the pops are pushed all the way down. Decorate with greenery and assorted holiday picks. Bake the mini cupcakes {TIP: use cupcakes liners that way when you peel the liner off the liner takes the baked brown portion with it and leaves a nice clean red and white cupcake}. NOTE: You will have to trim off some of the cupcakes to make them fit into the push up pops. I use my kitchen sicssors. Add a cupcake to the bottom, then a layer of frosting, another cupcake and top with more frosting. I haven't even gotten to the cupcakes with a hint of white chocolate and peppermint.

Peppermint Christmas Candle Push Up Pop Centerpiece

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 64 Mini Cupcakes

Ingredients

For the Mini White Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes:

• 12 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 large egg whites
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 4 ounce white chocolate bar, chopped and melted
• 3 tablespoons red sprinkles

For the Peppermint Cream Frosting:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 5 to 6 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy

Instructions

For the Peppermint Cupcakes:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners.
3. In a small microwave safe bowl melt the 4 ounces of chopped white chocolate and set aside.
4. Cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy.
5. In a medium bowl combine the flour , baking powder and salt.
6. In another medium bowl combine the egg whites, milk, vanilla and peppermint extracts.
7. Whip with a fork to combine.
8. Alternated with the flour and egg mixture beginning and ending with the flour.
9. Add melted chocolate.
10. Scrap sides of bowl often and beat until smooth.
11. Add the sprinkles.
12. Fill cupcakes cups 3/4 full.
13. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

For the Peppermint Cream Frosting:

1. In a medium bowl mix together the cream cheese and shortening until fluffy.
2. Add the peppermint and vanilla extracts and combine.
3. Add the sugar 1 cup at a time.
4. Beat until creamy.
5. Add crushed peppermint candy.

HOW TO ASSEMBLE:

1. Remove cupcake wrappers.
2. Trim the edges to fit the push up pops.
3. Add one cupcake, then frosting, another cupcake and top with more frosting.
4. Put parchment paper circles on the of the frosting and add the tea light.

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