Easy 4th of July Cupcakes

Still searching for an easy 4th of July recipe??!? 

Red Velvet, Light Whipped Cream and Blue Gelatin make these cakes tasty and patriotic! 

Easy, light, and 'semi-homemade' these 

cupcakes are just what you're looking for!

I originally whipped these up for Memorial Day a few weeks 

ago but since the newest member of the LaLa Cake team,
Abby, is just a mere 2 weeks old I thought ahead
and saved this post for the 4th!
(And I'm glad I did.. momma has been a little hot for baking lately!)

The cupcakes here are made using
my favorite red velvet cake recipe (recipe link below)

but for an even easier dessert use a box red velvet cake mix!

Printer friendly recipe here!

Super Easy Red White and Blue Cupcakes!

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Finishing Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

About 1 hour with Baking

Makes 1 dozen cupcakes

Ingredients:

12          Red Velvet Cupcakes, baked and cooled, can use homemade or   

               box mix. (My favorite Red Velvet Recipe here)

1/2 cup  Raspberry Preserves 

1- 8oz    Cool Whip, or other whipped topping, thawed

4 tbl       Blue Gelatin Mix Powder

              Blue Food Coloring or Gel (optional)

Method of Preparation:

1.  With a small apple corer remove the center of each cupcake.

2.  In medium bowl mix 1/2 the whipped topping with 2 tbl of gelatin mix and a few drops of blue food coloring.  

3.  Using a small pastry bag pipe remaining cool  whip into the center of each cupcake. Top with a tablespoon of raspberry preserves.  Using a larger pastry bag with a star tip pipe the blue cool whip onto each cupcake.  

4.  Sprinkle the remaining 2 tbl of blue gelatin onto the cupcakes.

Chill for 1 hour before serving.

Pro Tip:  before filling and frosting the cupcakes sprinkle the tops of each cooled cake with 1 tbl of simple syrup... 1/4 cup water and 1/4 cup sugar, heated just until the sugar dissolves then cooled to room temperature.  The syrup keeps the cupcakes super moist, especially if you are making these cakes more than a day in advance.