A Favorite Drink Turned Dessert: Raspberry Lemonade Cupcakes

When a cup of lemonade won't cut it, a cupcake version of the sweet drink is just the thing!  My sister and I have never liked soda so lemonade has always been our drink of choice.  I was so pleased when our favorite drink made a very tasty cupcake that all my friends, soda lovers included, couldn't get enough of.  These cupcakes were even requested for a boy's baby shower despite their very pink color!  That pretty pink color is thanks to a splash of raspberry that adds an extra special pop to this summery drink turned cupcake.

 

Cupcake Ingredients
1 box     Lemon Supreme cake mix (plus oil, water, and eggs according to box instructions)

Raspberry Lemonade Frosting Ingredients
1/2 cup     butter
2 cups      powdered sugar
Minute Maid Soft Frozen Raspberry Lemonade squeeze tube thawed for taste, color, and texture
Handful of thawed frozen raspberries, plus extra for decoration
* this frosting takes a lot of testing and adjusting to get just right, but it's very yummy when you do!

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Line cupcake trays with paper cupcake liners.
3.  Mix together cake mix, eggs, water, and oil according to box instructions.
4.  Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full.
5.  Bake for 18-21 minutes.
6.  Let cool, and taste one or two just to be safe :)
7.  Meanwhile, cream butter and powdered sugar.
8.  Slowly add thawed Raspberry Lemonade squeeze tube until desired texture, color, and taste.
9.  Mix in handful or so of thawed frozen raspberries for an extra splash of pink and flavor.
10.  Spread frosting over completely cooled cupcakes.
11.  Top each cupcake with a single pretty raspberry.
12.  Enjoy this sweet and tangy treat!

Back In Action

I'm baaack and ready to play catch up! Though I haven't been blogging, I have been baking and I'm anxious to share the sweets of the past few months.  In hopes of getting a little forgiveness for my absence here's a list of what I've been up to: thesis, thesis, thesis, a trip home for spring break, thesis, job applications, thesis defense, job interviews, got a job!!, graduation, apartment renovations, setting up my new classroom, packing, moving out of my apartment and into a new house in one weekend, summer trip home and to Hawaii, decorating my new house, and loving my first few weeks as a special ed. pre-k teacher...I think that about sums it up!  And if that doesn't work I can always get a doctor's note, well a dentist's note from my dad should work, right?!?
With all that behind us, let's get baking...and blogging too :)