Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

These were voted the best by our family. Sometimes we don't even get plates ready to give these away to friends for fear of a serious breakdown from one of the boys.

"Why do we always have to give them away"

This is the recipe I played around with the most. I wrote the notes on a little piece of paper which I did not place somewhere special. That is why it took so long to get it posted. I wasn't trying to hold out on the favorite kind, I just had to make it 3 more times to make sure it was just right. I have used limeade, raspberry lemonade, and pink lemonade in these cupcakes.

Pink Lemonade Cupcake

White cake

1/2 cup buttermilk

3 egg whites

1/8 cup water

2 TB oil

1/2 cup pink lemonade, concentrate and thawed

*If you don't have buttermilk, take 1/2 cup reg milk and add 1/2 TB lemon juice. Let sit for about 7 minutes.

Mix all ingredients and fill cupcake liners 3/4 full. Bake 350 for 21-22 minutes.

Frosting

1 cube of butter, room temp.

2 1/2 - 3 cups powdered sugar

2 TB pink lemonade concentrate thawed

a little milk if needed for desired consistencya few drops of red food coloring to make the frosting pink ( If making limeade I just use a little zest from a lime on the top and no food coloring)

Cream butter. Add 2 cups powdered sugar. Add lemonade. Add the last of powdered sugar. Add milk if needed. Add food coloring if you wish.

Deliver to friends at your own risk.

Rootbeer Cupcakes

These were a favorite with the boys and Eric.

1 white cake mix

1 cup of favorite rootbeer

Mix. Divide batter evenly amoung cupcake liners. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-22 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely.

Rootbeer Buttercream Frosting

1 stick of butter, room temp.

3 3/4 cup powdered sugar

3-4 TB milk

1 tsp rootbeer flavoring

Cream butter. Add powdered sugar. Add 3 TB of milk. Add rootbeer flavoring. Start the speed on slow and gradually increase speed until smooth and creamy. Add the last TB of milk if needed. Frost and poke in straws for a fun look. This recipe from 101 Gourmet Cupcakes.

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Frosting

2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp kosher salt

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp nutmeg

4 eggs

2 cups pumpkin (this is about 1 can)

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup vegtable oil

2 cups chocolate chips

Mix together. Pour evenly into cupcake liners. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-22 minutes.

Maple Frosting

8 ounces cream cheese, room temp.

4 TB unsalted butter, room temp.

1/4 tsp maple flavoring

1/4 tsp vanilla

2 cups powdered sugar

toffee bits

Cream the butter and cream cheese. Add maple and vanilla. Add powdered sugar. Frost cupcakes and sprinkle toffee bits on top.

Get plates ready to give away because these are delicious. One of my fall favorites. This recipe from Ina Garten

Banana Cupcakes

I've tried to convince myself that these are healthy enough for breakfast.

This recipe is from Martha and the frosting is from my friend Jody.

Cupcakes

3 cups cake flour

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

4 very ripe bananas

3/4 cup buttermilk

1/2 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup unsalted butter (room temp)
1 1/2 cups brown sugar

3 eggs (rom temp)

1 cup pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. Whisk together flour, soda, powder, salt, & cinnamon.

Using another bowl, whisk together the banana, buttermilk, and vanilla.

Using your mixer, cream butter and brown sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Add flour in two batches. Alternate with banana mixture and flour mixture. Stir in pecans by hand. Divide evenly into approx 28 cupcake liners. Cook 20 minutes.

Frosting

2 cubes butter, softened

1 pkg cream cheese

6 cups powdered sugar (give or take)

2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp vanilla

dash of salt

Cream butter and cream cheese. Add sugar 1 cup at a time until you reach the right consistency. Mix in cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. Add a bit of milk if it seems too thick. Remember what I said about frosting...you may eat three cupcakes just so you can have the frosting OR you can be like Trey and just lick it off the top.

Triple Citrus Cupcakes

1 lemon cake mix

1 TB of lemon zest

1 TB of lime zest

1 TB of orange zest

Do not question the easiness of the mix. I made all kinds of cupcakes and my friends picked this one as their favorite. Yes, even above my beloved chocolate bliss ones. Preheat oven to 325. Make the cake mix as directed and add the zest. Divide batter evenly between 24 cupcake liners. Bake for 2o minutes.

Citrus frosting (from Martha)

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

juice of 1/2 lime

1/2 TB lime zest

I always a little milk

Mix together with hand mixer. Take cupcake and dip. The glaze will run over so I always put foil under the cooling rack.

Chocolate Bliss Cupcakes

For all those who know how much I love chocolate bliss cake (its the bundt cake), this is exactly the same recipe except done cupcake style and without the raspberries. The recipe comes from Kraft and the inspiration to try cupcakes comes from Martha:)

Chocolate Bliss Cupcakes

1 pkg chocolate cake mix

1 box Jell-O chocolate instant pudding (4 serving size)

1 cup sour cream

4 eggs

1/2 cup veg. oil

1/2 cup water

3 cups thawed Cool Whip

1 pkg (8 squares) Baker's semi sweet baking chocolate I just use handfuls of chocolate chips because they melt faster.

Preheat oven to 325. Beat together cake mix, pudding, sour cream, eggs, oil, and water. Evenly divide between 24 cupcakes and bake for 22 minutes. Put handful of chocolate chips in microwave proof bowl and 1/2 cup Cool Whip and heat for 25 seconds. Stir. Add more chocolate chips and Cool Whip until it reaches the consistency of the frosting you like. Sometimes I keep it thick with chocolate curls on top. Other times I make it like a chocolate glaze. Either way this will be rich.

***If you make this the original way you use the same recipe but then lightly grease a bundt cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes. Remove cake. Make the frosting so that you can drizzle it over the cake. Add an extra dollop of Cool Whip and serve with raspberries. Did I mention this is my favorite cake? Eric asked for it for Father's Day and Tyler asked for it for his birthday so happiness all around. Enjoy!