Camouflage Cupcake Sandwiches

After Amy and I made the neon rainbow cupcakes and whoopie pies a few days ago, I started thinking about making a camouflage version of a cupcake sandwich instead of a true Whoopie Pie.  The problem with Whoopie Pies, for me, is that I just can't stomach the idea of using a cup of shortening in a frosting/filling.  At some point I guess I will have to get over it, as it really is necessary sometimes, but for now I'm just going to avoid it and make cupcake sandwiches with buttercream icing.  There is such a difference in the taste to me when using shortening.  Do people really like it??  Until I get with the program and make proper Whoopie Pie filling I'll call these Cupcake Sandwiches.

Anyway, my Sister's boyfriend is going to Kuwait for a year.  He is in the National Guard (as is my sister  Sandy, who completed a tour in the Guard in Iraq) and has been given his orders to leave soon.  They have a 5 month old daughter, my incredibly beautiful niece Ellie.  She is the smiliest baby I've ever met!  Needless to say, they are quite unhappy about being separated for so long.  I feel terribly for Sister, Nate, and Ellie.  I wish there was something I could do to help, but there really isn't.  I can only bake.  So I dedicate this post and made these cupcake sandwiches in honor of them:  Army Camouflage for Nate and Sandy (who is also in the guard and served in Iraq), pink Camouflage for Ellie.

Here's how I made them:  I used a french vanilla boxed cake and split half of the batter into four equal parts in four separate bowls.  Put the other half of the batter aside.  I then dyed one of the four bowl black (using black gel dye), one army green (using kelly green gel mixed with some brown gel dye), brown (using brown gel), and, lastly, beige (using just a touch of brown gel added with a toothpick to control the amount added).  

Next, I spooned very small amounts of each color at a time into a whoopie pie pan.  After filling each cavity, I baked them for 8 minutes on 350 degrees.  

Before Baking

After Baking

Remove each cake and let cool on a wire rack.  With the other half of the cake batter, I again separated it into four separate bowls and dyed them varying colors of pink.  I baked them the same way.  While the cakes were cooling I made the icing.

Vanilla Buttercream Icing

2 sticks of butter

4 cups of confectioner's sugar, sifted

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3-5 tablespoons half and half

Using a mixer, beat butter until it is fluffy.  Add 3 cups of sugar - one cup at a time - mixing until it's completely incorporated.  Add vanilla and half and half along with last cup of sugar and mix, adding more half and half until the icing is the desired consistency.


For the army Camo cakes I dyed the icing light army green (a small amount of both kelly green gel and brown gel dye). 

 The pink Camo cakes I iced with pink buttercream.

I think they turned out quite nicely and would be great for birthday parties or a Soldiers' "Welcome Home".  I look forward to making them for Nate again a year from now!  I hope you like them....that is, if you can see them...because they are camouflage, ha ha ha....get it?!  This has been my Husband's favorite on-going joke.  And I miss it every time.  Maybe it will make you laugh, ha ha ha.

Thank you, as always, to our Armed Forces (especially my many family members) for all you do to protect and serve our country.

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