Semi-Homemade Springtime Cupcakes

I recently hosted a baby shower for my sister-in-law and my newest baby niece. The decor was spring-like and I was able to find some very cute goodies to go with the theme. So rather than ordering a 1/2 sheet cake, which I originally planned on doing, I instead made cupcakes and ordered only an 8 inch round cake. Together they looked great and gave more than one flavor option for the guests. I don't actually come up with these ideas until I'm out shopping for something else and stumble upon something I like and then change my entire plan. Thus creating more work for myself but in the end it's worth it. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

Now, in true simple complexities fashion, I want the finished product to look the way I picture them in my mind, only without a ton of work. So I cheat. I buy boxed cake mixes and fillings and frosting in a can, add some pretties and there ya have it.

Lemme show ya

I went with lemon flavor for these cupcakes. Since I was doing a lemon filling I decided to lighten up the lemon flavoring of the cake so I combined one box of lemon and one box of vanilla cake mix.

Then we have have the cutest ever cupcake wrappers by Wilton. I love Wilton products. They have a huge variety and they never disappoint.

I use a measuring cup to fill the cups to ensure that they all turn out the same size. I filled these about 3/4 full so they fill most of the cup as they rise.

I wanted these to have a filling so I used a canned ready-made lemon filling.

I used a piping bad with a medium round tip, inserted it directly into the top of the cooled cupcake and filled it.

Now for the icing on the cake. Yep, from a can. Doesn't get any easier than that.

Then, thanks again to Wilton, I found these super cute birds nests with jellybean eggs which went perfect with our theme. I used these to finish off the cupcakes.

...and the finished product.

Works for me! Mission accomplished!