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Sunday, July 10, 2011

Raspberry Lemonade Cupcakes


OK, I'll admit it. After resisting the cupcake bandwagon for months and months I'm sitting squarely in the front seat at the moment. It's the frosting. There's no other explanation for why I've made more cupcakes in the last month than I've made my whole life to this point. I'm pretty sure that frosting should be it's own food group. I feel a lot like Buddy the Elf with his candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup. Maybe I should find a frosting addiction support group. So many questions, so little frosting....

These cute cupcakes came about because it's B's birthday tomorrow but she is going to be out of town so we celebrated her 16th day of birth (how did that happen?!?) yesterday. She is a chocolate lover to the bone but many of the people that were attending aren't so I did a chocolate birthday cake and these Raspberry Lemonade cupcakes. I debated whether or not to just use a cake mix, everyone knows I am cake challenged at times, but saw lemon cupcakes on My Baking Addiction and decided to give it a shot. I called it my Food Porn Friday challenge for the week.

The cake recipe was super straightforward and easy and only one of the 2 dozen cupcakes came out looking scary so I will definitely do this again. I will also make note to not use foil cupcake liners again, those things are stupid. Just for the record. The frosting is my regular cream cheese recipe with the addition of a sweetened raspberry sauce. I used frozen berries for the sauce and it worked out perfectly.

Lemon Cupcakes
slightly adapted from My Baking Addiciton

2 1/4 c. cake flour
2 T. and 1 tsp cornstarch
1 T. baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 c. buttermilk
4 large egg whites
1 1/2 c. granulated sugar
Zest from 3 lemons
1 stick butter (I used regular salted) at room temp
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp pure lemon extract

1. Sift together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl whisk together the buttermilk and egg whites.
3. In yet another large bowl (your mixer bowl) mix the sugar and lemon zest with your fingers until the sugar is moist and "lemony fresh". (B's favorite step)
Mix the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the extracts, then add 1/3 of the flour mix.
3. Beat in half the milk/egg mixture, half the remaining dry ingredients, the remaining milk mixture and finally the last of the dry stuff. Beat the batter together on medium for about 2 min so that it's well mixed and kind of airy.
4. Scoop the batter into your muffin tins. Bake 18-22 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting
this makes a ton, I usually refrigerate the left over and use it on something else...like chocolate.

2 8 oz bricks of cream cheese
1 stick butter, softened
1 bag powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup frozen raspberries
1/4 cup sugar.

1. Put the frozen raspberries in a small saucepan with the 1/4 c. sugar. Heat on medium heat until berries are broken down and the mixture is starting to thicken. If you have a lot of ice crystals in your berries and it seems too runny give it a sprinkle of cornstarch and stir well to tighten it up.
2. Press raspberry mixture through a sieve to strain out most of the seeds and set aside.
3. Cream together the cream cheese and butter until well combined. Add the raspberry sauce and mix well.
4. Gradually add the powdered sugar until frosting is the consistency you like. I typically make mine a bit stiffer if I am piping it from a decorating bag and a little creamier if I'm just spreading it.
5. Mix in vanilla. (If you wanted to really add to the "lemonade" aspect of the cupcakes you could also add the juice of one lemon) Adjust consistency with more powdered sugar if needed.

Post linked to:
Sweet Indulgences Sunday  
Sweets for a Saturday
Cupcake Party 
Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Your Recipe My Kitchen
Blue Velvet Cupcakes Link Party 
Just Something I Whipped Up
Bizzy Bakes 
Making the World Cuter Monday   
Muffin Monday
Tasty Tuesday
Tasty Tuesdays
2 Maids a Baking Tuesday
Totally Tasty Tuesday
Cast Party Wednesday
Whisking Wednesdays
Made it on Monday
These Chicks Baked
Foodie Wednesday 
Turning the Table Thursday
Full Plate Thursday

24 comments:

Molly said...

well how delicious! Raspberry icing is one of my favs!!

Kim McCallie said...

These cupcakes are beautiful! I love the little raspberry on top. Thanks for sharing on A Well-Seasoned Life's Sweet Indulgences Sunday.

Pegi Hoffman said...

Is that a 1-lb bag of powdered sugar or a 2-lb one?

Screaming Sardine said...

Oh yummy! I love the combination of lemon and raspberry. I will put this on my to make list. :)

I'd love for you to link this and any other cupcake related post you have at the month long Cupcake Link Party!

Cheers,
Tracy

Jigglebuns said...

Probably the 2 lb bag Pegi...I don't know. Whatever the C&H one you get at WalMart on sale is. ;)

Desi said...

Well those look amazing. That frosting, oh that frosting! I wanted to let you know about my cookbook giveaway that is going on right now until July 16th. Stop on by to enter! Hope you are having a great week :)

http://steaknpotatoeskindagurl.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-first-giveaway.html

Delicious Dishings said...

Gorgeous cupcakes! I've been thinking about trying to make some strawberry lemonade cupcakes for a while. Raspberry sounds delicious as well!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful and creative - found my way over from SASC's link party and I've got to pin these cuties!

Alexandra said...

Thanks so much for linking your beautiful and delicious cupcakes recipe up at Muffin and Cupcake Monday! Have a great week and hope to see you again soon!

Brandi said...

your cupcakes look amazing.

Lady Behind The Curtain said...

Beautiful! This looks so good. I would love it if you came over to Cast Party Wednesday tomorrow and shared some of your recipes with us.
Thanks,
I hope to see you there!

Alida Sharp said...

ooh this sounds so tasty!! And they look so beautiful!

Bibi @ Bibi's Culinary Journey said...

Cupcakes, who doesn't love them? They look almost too pretty to eat, but I bet they disappeared quickly.

Hope you can come by and share them at Foodie Wednesday again...
http://www.dailyorganizedchaos.com/spaghetti-with-faux-meat-sauce/

Angela Brian said...

oh goodness these look amazing!

i can't wait to try your fantasic recipe.

maybe i'll even save one for my husband.... well, maybe not :)

greensubmarinediydesign.blogspot.com
sugarloaf-recipeblog.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

These cupcakes look absolutely delish! I love the lemon and raspberry combination, so I can only imagine how tasty these are!

Harvesting for Life said...

Those look positively beautiful! I love the combo of flavors you used in these cupcakes, great for the summertime!

Janie said...

MMM! That looks delicious!

Miz Helen said...

Raspberry and Lemonade what a combination for a great cupcake! Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you next week. Have a great week end!
Miz Helen

Sarah said...

Oh my goodness. It's one in the morning, and I should be going to bed, but instead I'm looking at your delicious food and my stomach is grumbling - because, well, there's NOTHING better than cupcakes - they're totally one of my favorite, favorite foods! I (surprisingly!) have all the ingredients for this, and will totally be making it in the morning!

Roz | La Bella Vita Cucina said...

Lemon and raspberries are so perfect together! Now following you and inviting you to stop over and share this recipe or any other on my weekend foodie blog hop.....thanks!

Lady Behind The Curtain said...

Thank You for sharing your recipe with me at Cast Party Wednesday. I would love to see more of your recipes tomorrow!
Thanks,
I hope to see you there!

Jo-Anna@APrettyLife said...

The idea of raspberry and lemon together is amazing! Your cupcakes look so good! I'd love it if you would share them at my Cake, Cupcake & Icing linky party!
Jo-Anna
http://aprettylifeinthesuburbs.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Just wanted to thank you for linking up on Whisking Wednesdays and let you know I featured your recipe this week. Hope you'll come back and link up another recipe or two this week!

http://pinchofthisthatandtheother.blogspot.com/2011/07/whisking-wednesdays-12.html

Miz Helen said...

Congratulations!
You are featured on Full Plate Thursday! You are welcome to pick up your Red Plate. Hope you are having a great week!
Miz Helen