Jello Swirl Cupcakes with Jello Buttercream Icing

So I tried Kool aid for icing and it was great. But I still wanted to do something with Jello. I've never been a big jello eater but I do like using it for a poke cake or in a salad.

And I love the colors it comes in.

And kids think it's fun.

And I needed to make cupcakes for school, again.


Don't get me wrong, I love making treats for the kids, just 3 weeks in a row and I run out of creativity.

So I'm in the bathroom reading my EveryDay with Rachel Ray Magazine. Don't judge, you do it too. It's the only place a mom can grab 5 minutes of piece and quiet, at least in my house. Sometimes I go in there just to hide. Anyway, I spot this add for Tie-Dye Cupcakes by Jello. Cute, I'd even dog eared the page at some point. Sometimes life is just meant to be easy.

Now just to be safe, in case the jello part of the cupcakes wasn't that great, I decided on a swirl, with white cake mix. But I didn't need to worry, the jello part tastes good. And the Jello Buttercream, yum!

Another keeper and an easy go to recipe if you just need something fun!

Jello Swirl Cupcakes

1 box white cake mix (don't judge)
1 box Jello-pick a fun color, you know you want to
ingredients listed on box to make cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, Line a muffin tin with liners.
Mix up cake mix as directed on box, you know the routine, eggs, oil, water, whatever.

Now separate half of your batter to a separate bowl. Add Jello mix to remaining batter and mix.

Look at the pretty color.

Don't you love it?

Now time to dish it up. Spoon some white, then some color, then more white, then more color. Do not overfill, about 2/3 full should be good.

Awe, looks so pretty. Just a note, you'll have more colored batter than white batter so keep that in mind when spooning.

Bake for 16-18 minutes, watch them carefully, these burn easily. I may know this from personal experience. Use a toothpick to test for doneness.

Jello Buttercream Icing

1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups, powdered sugar (1 pound)
2 tablespoons milk
1-3 tablespoons Jello mix

Sift Powdered sugar to remove any lumps. Beat shortening and butter till creamy and smooth. Add in vanilla, beat again. Add sugar, 1 cup at a time, making sure to combine completely. Once all sugar is combined, add your milk. You've got your basic buttercream. So make it fun. Add some Jello.

The amount of Jello won't change your color very much but it will change your taste, if you want just a light flavor, use just the 1 tablespoon, if you want some bang, use more. Take a little taste, adjust, taste again, then frost.

To get the swirl on the frosting I followed this tutorial from Our Best Bites. Worked great!

I've linked up at some of these great parties