Kid Friendly Dessert Ideas~ Cherry Pepsi Cupcakes and Caramel Corn

I made a couple desserts I knew the kids would love for our Super Bowl celebration. I found out I was going to take part in the #PepsivsCoke challenge, so I knew I would have to make something delicious and sweet. I took my favorite basic vanilla cupcake recipe with my favorite butter cream icing recipe and add a little fizz in the form of Cherry Pepsi to make Cherry Pepsi Cupcakes. Check them out!

My husband had a little date night on Saturday night. We went to see One For The Money in the movie theater right next to Main Street Market (it used to be Marsh). After the movie we headed over to get the food we would need for our Super Bowl celebration.

We picked up all the ingredients I would need, and a few other things for the week.

On Sunday I did some serious cooking! I started with the cupcakes, then worked my way into the caramel corn, then on to a couple finger foods to finish out the meal.

The cupcakes were my favorite! They turned out even better than I hoped!

Here is the recipe:

Cherry Pepsi Cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup butter (room temperature)
• 4 eggs
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/3 cup Cherry Pepsi
• 1/3 cup Maraschino Cherry juice
• 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 3/4 cups cake flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350`F.

2. In a small mixing bowl combine the flour and baking powder and set it aside.

3. Beat together the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, then add the eggs one at a time, beating as you go.

4. Add the vanilla to the butter sugar mixture, then slowly add the milk, cherry juice and Cherry Pepsi,  mixing as you go.

5. Once you’ve incorporated all the moist ingredients, slowly add the flour mixture, until all the flour is incorporated.

6. Fill cupcake liners about 2/3 to 3/4 of the way full.

7. Bake at 350`F for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

This recipe makes about 2 dozen cupcakes, and I think the carbonation in the Pepsi makes them extra light and fluffy!

Cherry Pepsi Butter Cream Icing

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Cup butter (softened but not melted)
• 1/2 Cup shortening
• 4 Cups powdered sugar
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla
• Pinch of salt
• 3 Tablespoons of Cherry Pepsi
• 2 Tablespoons Maraschino Cherry Juice

Cream the butter and shortening together until smooth, add the vanilla. Dissolve the salt into the Pepsi and cherry juice completely. Mix the Cherry Pepsi- cherry juice/salt mixture into the creamed butter and shortening. Put the mixer on low, and add powdered sugar slowly, mixing constantly.

Ice the cupcakes with a spatula, or with your favorite decorating tip. I used a Wilton # 1M Tip and swirled it around from the outside to the center, then top each cupcake with one Maraschino Cherry.

I also used some Orville Redenbacher Natural Popcorn to make a batch of homemade caramel corn, with the help of a caramel recipe from Heavenly Homemakers.

 

I made one recipe of the caramel, then popped two bags of Orville Redenbacher’s Natural Popcorn.

I put one each in two separate 9×13 baking dishes. I poured half of the caramel mixture over each pan and tossed it in. I baked it for about 30 minutes at 250`F, and turned it after about 15 minutes.

After the caramel corn cooled off I put it in a bowl, and tossed in some chocolate chips.

Here’s a picture of our complete Superbowl feast!

We also had personal Mexican pizzas, and buffalo wings. I thought the finger foods would work perfectly for the game, and I was right! They were a hit! You can find the other recipes here:

• Personal Mexican Pizzas
• Buffalo Chicken Wings

It was all delicious! I made up a sample plate for you.

My son gave it two thumbs up. He was extra excited about the Pepsi, it’s definitely one of his faves. He was supposed to wait to drink the Pepsi until I took the picture! You can see how well that worked out for me!

We all had a great time munching down and watching the game.

My son was rooting for the Giants to win. I didn’t really care who won, I was just there for the commercials and the halftime show! I loved most of the commercials. I was excited to check out the new Melanie Amaro Pepsi commercial (if you missed it you can check it out at the Pepsi website), and the Mrs. Brown M & M commercial!

You can see my full shop from start to finish on Google+ here: Marsh Pepsi and Popcorn Superbowl Fun

Did you have a good time watching the Super Bowl? Did you have big plans, or just hang out with family?

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias Of course as always all opinions are my own.