my kitchen was a disaster, but the cupcakes turned out beautifully. i realize i need to follow directions. when it says to gradually add the powdered sugar, they mean gradually. it looked like a snow storm in my kitchen.
anyway.....
these cupcakes are great! i like cupcakes, but i'm not much of a frosting person, unless it's this frosting. i may or may not have eaten it by the spoonful. luckily the recipe makes a ton so i had plenty.
pink lemonade cupcakes - makes 36
idea and frosting recipe adapted from real mom kitchen
cake recipe adapted from our best bites and real mom kitchen
for the cake:
1 box white cake mix
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1/4 cup pink lemonade drink mix (like country time pink lemonade)
a few drops of red food coloring
mix all dry ingredients with a whisk, then add wet ingredients. beat for two minutes. fill paper liners 3/4 full and bake according to box directions - 350* for 18-20 minutes. makes 36 regular size cupcakes.
for the frosting:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup shortening
1/2 cup frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
2 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
zest from 1 lemon
2 pound package or 7 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
3 drops of pink food coloring
cream the butter, shortening, and lemon zest together. then add the lemonade concentrate, milk and vanilla with a mixer. beat until smooth. gradually add the sugar, mixing well until light and fluffy. beat in the food coloring. pipe the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes. (i had about 2 cups leftover, i should have used a lot more on the cupcakes. but then again, i didn't think i was a frosting person.)
decorations:
18 colored drinking straws
candied fruit slices
cut the bendy part off the straw and discard, then cut the remaining piece in half. put the straw in the cupcake, a bit toward the edge and stick a candied fruit slice in the frosting. i ended up cutting the fruit slice in half for the regular sized cupcakes and in fourths for the mini cupcakes.
