Father's Day Necktie Cupcakes

Tacky ties are a timeless Father's Day tradition.  So why not incorporate this silly theme into some delicious, not to mention adorable, Father's Day necktie cupcakes?  Here is the fun and fabulous recipe on a budget:

Necktie Cupcakes

1. Purchase a yellow or chocolate cake mix and bake according to the cupcake instructions on the box.
2. Let the cupcakes cool completely and then top with white frosting.
3. Use tubes of colored icing to draw a necktie onto the cupcakes.
4. Decorate the neckties with colored stripes, polka dots and more.
5. Get creative with color and consider using blue, yellow or even purple as the background frosting color on your cupcakes.
6. Use the color scheme of dad's favorite sports team for added detail.

These terrific necktie Father's Day cupcakes can make the perfect addition for dad's brunch, barbecue or dinner!

A Father's Day Lunch Menu on a Budget

They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. So why not show dad how much we love him this Father's Day with a delicious and hearty lunch on a budget? Here's an easy and economical Father's Day lunch menu:

Appetizers - Mini Pizzas
Kick off your Father's Day luncheon with miniature pizzas made with Ritz Crackers or a generic brand for less at Aldi. Spread tomato paste onto several dozen crackers. Top with a piece of pepperoni, shredded mozzarella cheese and a sprinkling of Italian spices. Bake on a cookie sheet for 10 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Main Entree - Sloppy Joe's and Sweet Potato Fries
Whip up a batch of Sloppy Joe's using your own concoction or a few cans of Manwich. Serve on soft Kaiser rolls with pickles and crunchy sweet potato fries, made by Oreda for just a few dollars.

Dessert - Baseball Themed Cupcakes
Bake up a dozen or so yellow boxed cupcakes for a yummy Father's Day dessert. Let cool and then top with vanilla or cream cheese frosting. Use a tube of red icing to embellish your baseball cupcakes with red stitching. Serve atop a platter dusted with green dyed coconut flakes to represent a baseball field.

Father's Day Decorations
Fill large clear glass vases and bowls with golf balls and tennis balls. Use the displays as playful Father's Day lunch table centerpieces.

Cool Summer Cupcakes on a Budget

It's no secret that cupcakes are a current trend when it comes to dessert treats. But, the very first mention of cupcakes goes all the way back to 1796 in an American cookbook written by Amelia Simms. Today, cutesy cupcake cafes are popping up all over the country. However, you do not have to frequent your local, sometimes pricey, bake shop to savor these delicious mouthfuls. You can easily create cupcakes of all kinds in your very own kitchen.

S'mores  Cupcakes
This cupcake idea is a whimsical twist on traditional s'mores. To make easy s'mores cupcakes, simply purchase a chocolate boxed cake mix and bake according to the instructions. Ice each cupcake with chocolate frosting and then top with several mini marshmallows and a few Teddy Graham crackers.

Father's Day Golf Ball Cupcakes
Perfect for Father's Day or any summer celebration, these golf ball cupcakes are fun to create. Whip up a batch of yellow cupcakes in bright green baking cups. Next, spread the cupcakes with vanilla or cream cheese frosting. Now, poke the frosting a few dozen times, using a plastic straw for a golf ball design. Serve your cupcake on a platter covered with green Easter grass. Or you can also dye a bag of coconut green for a grassy look.

Fourth of July Cupcakes
This festive fireworks cupcake recipe is ideal for the Fourth of July. Once again bake up a batch of cupcakes and smear with white frosting. Using red and blue tubes of icing, draw several bulls-eye type circles onto each cupcake. Next, starting at the edge of each cupcake, drag a toothpick through the colored icing several times just to the middle of the circles. Soon you will have a fireworks image atop your Fourth of July cupcakes. Embellish with edible glitter sprinkles.

Click here for graduation cap cupcakes:

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