Basket and Bows Cupcakes

Description
Chocolate Cupcakes that look like baskets with bows.
 * Makes: 14 jumbo cupcakes.
 * Contributed by Catsrecipes Y-Group

Cupcakes

 * 4 cups flour
 * 2 tsp baking powder
 * 1 tsp salt
 * ¾ tsp baking soda
 * 1¼ cups unsalted butter, softened
 * 2 cups sugar
 * 4 eggs
 * 2 tsp vanilla
 * 1¾ cups buttermilk

White frosting

 * 1 pound confectioner's sugar
 * ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
 * ⅓ cup milk
 * ¼ tsp almond extract

Chocolate Royal icing

 * 1 pound confectioner's sugar
 * ⅓ cup cocoa powder
 * 7 tbs warm water
 * 3 tbs powdered egg whites

Bows

 * 7 oz tube marzipan
 * assorted food coloring

Cupcakes

 * 1) Heat oven to 350 °F.
 * 2) Grease jumbo muffin pans with nonstick spray.
 * 3) Whisk flour, baking powder, salt and soda in a bowl to blend.
 * 4) Beat butter and sugar in a bowl until fluffy.
 * 5) Beat in eggs. Stir in vanilla.
 * 6) Beat in flour mixture alternating with buttermilk.
 * 7) Spoon batter into muffin cups.
 * 8) Bake for 24 minutes or until done.
 * 9) Cool in pan then remove cupcakes.

White frosting

 * 1) Beat butter, sugar, milk and extract in bowl until smooth. Cover.

Chocolate royal icing

 * 1) In a bowl, combine sugar, cocoa, water and egg whites.
 * 2) Beat until combined then beat until icing is shiny and thick.
 * 3) Cover icing with plastic wrap.

To decorate

 * 1) Ice the side of a cupcake with Royal Icing.
 * 2) Using tines of a fork, draw lines through the icing to resemble a basket.
 * 3) Set on wax paper to dry.
 * 4) Repeat with remaining cakes.
 * 5) Spread tops of cupcakes with 3 tbs white frosting.

Bows

 * 1) Unwrap marzipan.
 * 2) Divide in quarters.
 * 3) Tint a quarter with a single drop of food coloring.
 * 4) Knead until coloring is evenly distributed.
 * 5) Roll out to ⅛ inch thickness.
 * 6) Cut ¾ inch wide strips to form ribbon.
 * 7) Trim ends to resemble ribbon points.
 * 8) Cut another strip of marzipan 6 inches by ¾ inch, fold the ends to the center to make a bow.
 * 9) Wrap another thin strip around the center of the bow and press on the bottom to seal.
 * 10) Repeat with remaining marzipan and food coloring.
 * 11) Transfer ribbons to cupcakes, center bows on top of ribbons.
 * 12) Serve immediately.