1 box cake mix (I chose chocolate), plus ingredients on back of box
24 cake cones
Vanilla Buttercream (recipe & ingredients follow)
Hot fudge sundae syrup
Sprinkles
Patted-dry maraschino cherries

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Put one cake cone in the bottom of each muffin cavity. Set aside.
2. Prepare your cake batter according to package directions. I stirred mini chocolate chips in mine for a fun addition. Portion your batter into each cake cone, about 2/3 full or just toward the middle of the cone. Don’t fill too much higher or it may overflow. Very carefully put the pans into the oven and bake for approx. 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool completely.

Easy Vanilla Bean Buttercream *the addition of vanilla bean paste as opposed to vanilla extract lends a richer, ice-cream-like flavor to this frosting, but in a pinch, use vanilla extract

2/3 cup butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla bean paste
About 3-4 Tbsp milk
About 4 cups powdered sugar

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter and vanilla bean paste until creamy, about 2 mins. Gradually begin adding powdered sugar, about one cup at a time, using a Tbsp of milk every so often to thin out the frosting and make it creamy. Frosting should be light and fluffy and not too soft.
2. Heat the hot fudge sauce for about 10 seconds. You want it to be on the verge of becoming liquidy but not quite there yet (too liquidy and it’ll melt the frosting, but not heated up at all will result in an ugly  glob). Spoon a small spoonful of hot fudge sauce onto the tops of your frosted cupcakes. Top with sprinkles and a cherry. Serve immediately.