Secret Admirer HERSHEY’S HUGS and KISSES Candy Cupcakes

From HERSHEY’S
Makes 30 cupcakes

If you’re looking for the perfect Valentine cupcake decorating idea, your search is over. This easy-to-make recipe uses HERSHEY’S HUGS Candies and KISSES Chocolates to show the special person in your life how much you care. Just be prepared to receive some hugs and kisses of your own.

INGREDIENTS

45 HERSHEY’S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates, divided
45 HERSHEY’S HUGS Brand Candies, divided
1/2 cup butter or margarine (1 stick), softened
1/2 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup HERSHEY’S Cocoa
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/3 cups water
1 can ready-to-spread vanilla frosting (16 oz)
red food coloring

DIRECTIONS

1.Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 30 muffin cups (2 1/2 inches in diameter) with paper or foil bake cups. Remove wrappers from 15 KISSES and 15 HUGS.

2.Beat butter, shortening and sugar in large bowl until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add alternately with water to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Fill muffin cups 1/2 full of batter. Place 1 KISS or 1 HUG on surface of each cup; do not press candy into batter.

3.Bake 20 to 23 minutes or until tops spring back when touched lightly. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

4.Remove wrappers from remaining candies; set aside. Stir several drops red food coloring into frosting for desired shade of pink frosting. Frost cupcakes. Top each cupcake with 1 KISS and 1 HUG.

Find this recipe and more holiday treats at hersheyland.com