To prepare cupcakes:

Cup of Yum
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a small bowl, mix together the wet ingredients (butter, egg whites, milk, vanilla extract) for the cupcake batter.
3. In a separate larger bowl, mix together the dry ingredients for the cupcake batter (flour, sugar, baking powder, salt).
4. Mix together the dry and wet ingredients to form the cupcake batter. Use an electric mixer to make this easier, if you have one.
5. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners. Pour batter into the cupcake liners, filling about ⅔ full. Bake for 12-18 minutes, until a sharp knife inserted into the cupcakes comes out clean.

To make the buttercream frosting:

1. Using an electric mixer, beat together the softened butter, icing sugar and milk.
2. Beat until the frosting forms a semi-stiff peak.
3. Before beginning, be sure your cupcakes are completely cool to the touch. You don’t want your buttercream melting off your cupcakes!

To decorate cupcakes:

1. Scoop the frosting into a piping bag, with a Wilton’s 1M icing tip (or similar) attached.
2. Frost each cupcake.
3. Place one cookie on the side of each cupcake, sticking into the frosting. (See pictures.)
4. Cut your paper straws into thirds, and insert one into each cupcake.
5. Serve and enjoy!