Golf Cupcakes {Cupcake Recipe from a Box}

My little guy is a golf fanatic, and that is saying it lightly. He golfs at least 3 days a week and would love for me to take him to the range everyday. He just joined the SC Junior PGA, so I would say that he is pretty serious about this. Believe me it's taken a lot to get to this point. He is only 13 years old and he has tried it all; Karate, Soccer, Baseball, Football, Basketball and last year even tried Volleyball. He was so so good at baseball too, he was an excellent pitcher, but his heart was not in it. It was a struggle getting him there and he just hated it. So, what's a mom to do? Try, try and try some more.

It was the summer last year and I enrolled him into his schools summer golf camp where the junior high kids got to practice with the high school kids. I went to pick him up on the first day the coach told me "he was good", I said "okay", then he said "no, he is REALLY good. and that he could practice all year with the high school kids, until the tournament season started". Justin was only in 7th grade and he was able to practice with the High School kids, he was thrilled and he did just that. Last year his 7th grade year was filled with golf-golf and some more golf. Sure he had played a little before with his dad and game or two per year, but now he was playing 3-days a week. And his dad is loving it too because now they hit plays and play a game or two each week. Such a difference in just one year.

Now it's the summer before his 8th grade year and he still has to wait one more school year to be on the High School team, so he gets to just do summer camp with them and of course practice another half-a-year until the tournament season starts. He loves every minute of it. We also enrolled him at a local golf course for weekly lessons and now he takes private lessons with a pro-golfer there too. This week we got him all signed up for the Junior PGA and he will now start competing at local golf courses all year round with kids his own age. This has been such and awesome thing to watch him grow and finally find "THAT THING" that thing he loves to do more then anything. And yes he is very hard on himself, he is really serious about his game.

My twins always have had that, they danced and were cheerleaders for 10 years, they started when they were 8 years old and now they are going off to college with a scholarship to dance. I am just so happy for my son now has "THAT THING" and that thing he loves which is golf and that this will probably carry him through high school and hopefully onto college. It's perfect timing and I knew God had a great plan for him. I will now be trading my Dance Mom Hat in for a Golf Mom Hat. It's a crazy life, but I am SO glad I am in it.

Now, onto these adorable, awesome golf cupcakes I made for my son's birthday (last year). I know blogging doesn't always happen right when you want it to, but better late than never.

The recipe for the golf ball cupcakes are quite easy, I will share my new favorite cupcake from a box recipe, and then the trick is making the golf balls and the grass from icing.

This is a new favorite of mine, cupcakes from a box but adding in so much more.

GOLF CUPCAKES
Cupcake Recipe {from a box and more}
original recipe found at Big Bears Wife

1 box white cake mix
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
4 egg whites
1-1/3 cup water
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla

Pre-heat oven to 325. In a large bowl, mix together cake mix, flour, sugar, and salt. In the bowl of a mixer, mix together the egg whites, water, and vanilla. Mix on low for about 10 seconds. Slowly add the dry mix a little at a time. Mixing on low until everything is combined. Add sour cream and mix well. Add color now if desired. Mix well. Line a muffin/cupcake tin with paper liners. Fill each cupcake liner 3/4 full of batter. Bake at 325 for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.

I purchased a chocolate golf mold at my local cake store, I made the golf balls by melting white chocolate and using the mold without the sticks.

I then used a favorite frosting recipe of mine, White Chocolate Buttercream frosting, this recipe hardens well after being refrigerated and made the grass look great.

White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
from Magnolia Bakery Cookbook, New York City

1-1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened
6 tbsp milk
9 oz white chocolate, melted and cooled to lukewarm
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups sifted powdered sugar

In a large bowl, on medium speed of an electric mixer, beat the butter until creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the milk carefully and bet until smooth. Add the melted chocolate and beat well, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and beat for 3 more minutes. Gradually add the powdered sugar and beat on low speed until creamy and desired consistency.