Fruity Pebbles Cupcakes with Cereal Milk Frosting

The frosting is the best part of this (and almost any) cupcake!  Ask any kid what is the best part of a bowl of cereal and they will almost always say, "the milk left at the bottom of the bowl."  I decided to use that flavor to enhance a simple vanilla butter cream frosting.

Fruity Pebbles Cupcakes
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 whole eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups flour
1 cup Fruity Pebbles cereal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 cup milk
              In your mixing bowl combine the butter and sugar. Mix on medium until fluffy, about 4 minutes.  Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.  In a medium bowl mix together the flour, baking powder and salt.  Add half of the dry mix to the butter and sugar and mix on low just until combined.  Add the milk and mix again just until combined.  Add the rest of the dry mix and turn off mixer as soon as it is barely combined.  Use a spatula to finish folding in any flour stuck to the edges of the bowl.  Carefully stir in the cereal.  Spoon into paper baking cups in your muffin pan until 2/3 full.  Bake at 375 for 18 minutes, or until tops bounce back lightly when touched.  Remove from the oven and cool completely before icing.

Cereal Milk Frosting
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened to room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3-5 Tbsp. heavy whipping cream
1 cup Fruity Pebbles cereal
         In a small bowl combine the cereal and heavy whipping cream.  Stir it together and let it sit for at least an hour.  In a mixing bowl add the butter and mix on low to medium speed for at least 3 minutes until the butter is well creamed.  Add the sugar 1 cup at a time and mix on low until incorporated.  Next add the vanilla and let it mix in.  Strain the heavy whipping cream from the cereal and add to the frosting 1 Tbsp. at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.  I like my frosting fairly thick and stabilized.  After frosting your cupcakes sprinkle a little cereal on top for decoration.