Christmas Tree Cupcakes

• 1 (15.25- to 16.5-ounce) package white cake mix
• 2/3 cup buttermilk*
• 1/3 cup Land O Lakes Butter, melted
• 3 Land O Lakes Eggs
• 1 cup mini real semi-sweet chocolate chips, if desired
• 5 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup Land O Lakes Butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
• 5 to 6 tablespoons Land O Lakes Half & Half or Fat Free Half & Half or milk
• Green food color
• 12 ice cream sugar cones
• 1/2 cup white sanding sugar**
• Small semi-sweet chocolate nonpareils, if desired
• Large star-shaped decorator sprinkles

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Place paper baking cups into 24 muffin pan cups; set aside.
2. Combine all cupcake ingredients in bowl except chocolate chips; beat at medium speed until well mixed.
3. Stir in mini chocolate chips, if desired.
4. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling 2/3 full.
5. Bake 18-22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
6. Cool completely.
7. (Set 12 cupcakes aside for another use.)
8. Combine powdered sugar, 1/2 cup butter and vanilla in bowl.
9. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often and gradually adding corn syrup and enough half & half for desired spreading consistency.
10. Divide frosting in half.
11. Frost 12 cupcakes with white frosting.
12. Tint remaining half of frosting with green food color, as desired; beat at medium speed until smooth.
13. Place sanding sugar in wide shallow bowl.

white cake, buttermilk, butter, o lakes eggs, semisweet chocolate chips, powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, light corn syrup, milk, green food color, cream sugar cones, white sanding sugar, semisweet chocolate nonpareils, sprinkles

Taken from www.landolakes.com/recipe/3671/christmas-tree-cupcakes (may not work)