ICING BEE RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cups into 12 muffin pan cups; set aside.
• Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in bowl; set aside. 
• Place sugar and 1/2 cup butter into large bowl; beat on medium-high speed until well mixed. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons honey, lemon zest and vanilla. Add flour mixture, alternately with milk, beating well after each addition.
• Spoon batter evenly into prepared muffin pan cups. Bake 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool completely. 
• Place jelly beans onto parchment paper. Drizzle melted chocolate over jelly beans to look like bumble bee stripes. Immediately arrange 2 almonds slices to look like wings. Let stand until chocolate is set. 
• Combine 1 cup butter and 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons honey in large bowl until well mixed. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at medium speed until creamy and smooth. (Frosting will be thick.)
• Spoon frosting into piping bag fitted with large round tip. Pipe frosting onto cupcakes to look like beehive. Decorate with jelly bean bumble bees; drizzle with honey as desired. 

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar until soft and creamy.
• Add eggs and vanilla, mixing well.
• Combine flour and baking powder, then blend into the butter mixture.
• Break off small, walnut sized pieces of dough and shape into bows, braids, knots,"s" shapes, or any shape you desire.
• Bake in a preheated oven at 375 F until lightly browned, about 15-20 minutes.
• Cool on wire racks,then ice as desired.
• Icing: Blend sugar and your choice of flavoring, adding milk slowly to form a soft, smooth icing (some ice the cookies while they are still warm, others wait until they are cooled).
• Sprinkle with colored sugar or confettini (tiny multi-colored sprinkles) before icing sets.