{Recipes} -- Blue Velvet Cupcakes & March Madness!!

If you've been poking around this site for long, you've probably noticed I'm a kind of a girly-girl.  I've never been camping (and only plan to if I can stay in a hotel), I love all shades of pink, I took up tennis because I thought tennis skirts were cute and my favorite movie characters are Elle Woods and Margot Tennebaum.  I'm not a huge sports fan, except for one time of the year -- MARCH MADNESS!! 

In the Bluegrass State, basketball is king!  Growing up in Lexington, you either cheer for the University of Kentucky or you are politely asked to leave, bless your heart.  The craziness begins this week with the SEC Tournament.  If you need me for anything, you can find me in front of the television watching as many March Madness games as possible.

My excitement is already starting to build, so I did a little test run of some Blue Velvet Cupcakes, yesterday.  I plan on making these little treats for a SEC viewing party this weekend.  Don't you love this blue color?

The Wildcat paw on top was made by cutting a cupcake in layers, then using an icing tip to cut it out. 

I couldn't resist making a #1, as a cupcake topper, with the season the Cats have had!

The recipe for these UK inspired cupcakes comes from one of my favorite dessert bloggers, Sprinkle Bakes.  You can find the recipe, HERE.  The secret to creating this lovely shade of blue?  Violet food coloring gel.  Sprinkle Bakes gives exact directions on how to get this great color.  Not to mention that they taste pretty yummy, too.  Just like my grandmother's red velvet cake, except it's in Kentucky Blue! 

If you are a UK fan and are planning a basketball party during March Madness, you can get this menu card and these cupcake toppers in my Etsy Shop.  If you're not a UK fan, don't worry, the Basketball Printable Party Collection can be customized for ANY team.  Stop by my Etsy Shop  to check it out!