Ingredients:
1 pound softened Creole or regular cream cheese 1/2 cup shortening 1/4 pound powdered sugar 1/4 teaspoon Zatarain’s Root Beer Extract Dried fava beans (set aside) Combine shortening and cream cheese in mixer at medium speed and whip with paddle until smooth. Add powdered sugar and whip until fluffy; mix in root beer extract until well combined. Root Beer Frosting 1 pound powdered sugar 1/4 pound butter 1/2 cup shortening 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup water Pinch of salt 1 teaspoon Zatarain’s Root Beer Extract

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in bowl of mixer. Beat together at medium speed until light and fluffy. To assemble cupcakes: Use a 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon to scoop out the center of completely cooled cupcakes from the top to about halfway down. With a piping bag, or plastic bag with the corner snipped off, fill the hole with filling. Insert a dried fava bean into filling of each cupcake. (Note: fava bean is for decoration only and should not be eaten.) Using a star tip and separate piping bag, pipe frosting starting on the outside, working your way to the center in one continuous motion. Top with green, purple and yellow or gold sprinkles or decorative sugar, as on a traditional King Cake. All materials courtesy of Family Features. For more information on New Orleans-Style cuisine, visit www.facebook.com/zatarains