# What You'll Need:
→ Cupcakes
01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
08 - 1/2 cup whole milk
→ Dual-Tone Frosting
09 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
12 - 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
13 - Pinch of salt
14 - Gel food colouring, two contrasting colours (e.g., yellow and lavender)
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners and set aside.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating briefly after each, then mix in the vanilla.
04 - Alternate adding the flour mixture and the milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix gently until just combined to avoid overworking the batter.
05 - Divide the batter evenly among the liners, filling each about two-thirds full for proper rise.
06 - Bake for 16–18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Let the cupcakes rest in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before icing.
07 - Beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, then add the milk, vanilla and salt; continue beating until the mixture is smooth and light in texture.
08 - Divide the prepared frosting evenly between two bowls and tint each portion with a different gel colour to the desired intensity.
09 - On a sheet of plastic wrap, pipe a long stripe of one colour alongside a stripe of the other. Roll the plastic into a tight log, twist the ends, snip one end to expose both colours and insert into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip.
10 - Pipe a swirled dual-tone rosette onto each cooled cupcake. Finish as desired with sprinkles or edible glitter.
