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Today is the 107th Founders’ Day of my sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and I thought I would celebrate with these darling pink and green vanilla cupcakes. Being a Soror of this sisterhood is a family legacy that I will always cherish. ย Both my mother and my aunt are Sorors (even my baby cousin Ros has joined our sisterhood), and it was a true honor for me to follow in their footsteps.
Founded on January 15, 1908 at Howard University, it was the first Greek letter sorority established for African American women. ย Sure, I could tell you all about the huge accomplishments and strides we have made or even the well-known celebrity Sorors like Maya Angelou, Star Jones, Michelle Obama, Phyllicia Rashad, Coretta Scott King, and “Selma” Film Director (hopefully Oscar nominated by the time you read this) Ava DuVernay, but this post is about the over 250,000 Sorors internationally upholding our traditions of ย supreme service to all mankind.
I have always beenย in awe of the brilliance, beauty and class they exude. ย These women were everything I ever wanted to be. ย But beyond that, they worked to change the world around them. ย Their membership wasn’t just a mere college experience to tuck away. ย They served for years to come, and gave their lives to that service. ย There is something to be said about the character of a woman of Alpha Kappa Alpha.
I still remember the day I was initiated, and the moment my mother pinned me. ย It is a memory I will never forget.
My Sorors have been there through thick and thinย to cheer on my highest moments and and support me through my lowest. ย They are some of my very best friends. Seeing them soar is as much my happiness as it is theirs.
These vanilla cupcakes are the perfect sweet note for such a beautiful day as this. They are just like AKA with their traditional flavor with a punch of its lovely pink and green colors. Understated and classic but never boring.
To my beautiful Sorors with their gorgeous pearls on today and stunning pink and green, I wish you a lovely Founders’ Day filled with sisterhood, service and love. Seriously, 107 years has never looked so good.
Pink and Green Vanilla Cupcakes
Want to Save This Recipe, Boo?
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups cake flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup coconut milk or whole milk
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 2 colors food coloring (I used green and red)
For the Buttercream:
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 4 cups confectioner's sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 2 colors food coloring (I used green and red)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
For the Cupcakes:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and fill a muffin pan with clear cupcake liners.
- Add butter to bowl of standing mixer and beat on medium high speed. Slowly pour in granulated sugar and continue to mix until light, fluffy and well combined.
- Add in eggs, one at a time.
- Turn mixer down to slowest speed. Carefully add in cake flour, baking powder and salt then add in milk, vanilla and oil until just combined. Don't overmix!
- Turn off mixer and remove half of batter, placing in a separate bowl.
- Tint each bowl of batter with separate food colorings until you get the color you desire.
- Alternate adding teaspoons of each color batter into cupcake liners until liners are 2/3s full (don't overfill these since they rise high).
- Bake for 16-19 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool for 10 minutes then remove cupcakes from pan to cool completely to room temperature.
For the Buttercream:
- Add butter to bowl of your low speed. Slowly add in confectioner's sugar. Once incorporated, turn mixer up to medium high speed.
- Add in vanilla extract and heavy whipping cream until buttercream is fluffy and smooth.
- Remove half of buttercream and place in separate bowl.
- Tint both bowls of buttercream to your preferred color.
- Add buttercreams to separate piping bags then place both side by side into piping tip. Pipe frosting on each cupcake (make sure they are completely cooled!) and serve.
These cupcakes are a hit. I love the airiness the cake flour gives it.
I love your chocolate cupcake recipe – the absolute best ever – so I’m excited to try your vanilla cupcakes too. I’m in Australia and we don’t have cake flour readily available so I was wondering if I can use regular flour?
You can make your own cake flour if you have access to cornstarch here: https://grandbaby-cakes.com/how-to-make-cake-flour/
I’m turning 60 in a few days, and I was looking for a recipe to make MYSELF some birthday cupcakes (because COVID-19). I came to your site first because I knew you’d have what I was looking for, and lo and behold … pink and green cupcakes! And what’s better than that? I find out YOU’RE MY SOROR! Thank you so much, Soror Jocelyn! I’m going to make these cupcakes for my birthday and I’m going to make them again next year to celebrate my 40th AKAversary!
Yes Soror Dawnn! So wonderful to discover my Sorors here supporting me.
Hello Soror,
The cupcakes look delicious! Just one point of clarification, our First Lady Michelle Obama is not a Soror, she did not accept our invitation when the President went into office. Hopefully she will accept this time.
Love it Jocelyn. The cupcakes look oh so pretty just like the lovely ladies of AKA. Hope you had a great founders day!
Thank you so much hon! I had a great day!
Love the tribute to our illustrious sisterhood! Jealous of how cute your initiation photos are. LOL! I wouldn’t dare post mine! ๐
Hahaha absolutely my Soror! Thanks so much! I want to see those pictures!
What wonderful cupcakes for this celebration, Jocelyn, and your sorority sisters sound like such special ladies indeed!
Thank you so much Marcie!!
This is such a beautiful post, and a wonderful tribute! What an amazing group to be a part of, and an incredible legacy to have a hand in carrying on. I’m so proud of you!
Thank you so much boo!!
These are gorgeous! The perfect way to celebrate!
Thank you Ashley!
So pretty! A great way to celebrate. My colleague is in your rival sorority (forget what they’re called, something with Delta) and even she thinks these are gorgeous! ๐
Hahaha yes she is a Delta! Aww tell her thank you.