Cherry Limeade Cupcakes

So, you DID listen to me and you did come over for this one eh?  Cool, glad you did.  This may seem like a regular cupcake recipe but it has a fun twist and when you see what it is, you are going to think to yourself, "COOL"!  If you have a child celebrating a birthday soon, don't order cupcakes, make these!  Let me get on to gettin' on so you can find out, I possibly hit this one out of the park.  

Well, you all know how I feel about box cake mixes.  And to be honest, I swear I was going to use a from scratch recipe today.  When at the last minute I decided to divide my batter, I decided I was going with a box.  You will see why.  I just want it to be noted, I DID plan on making cake from scratch.  Even fate thinks I am better off with the box!

Cherry limeades are possibly my second most favorite drink, especially in the summer.  My husband so kindly brought me one a week or so ago and with my unwavering love of cupcakes I thought I should probably try to put this drink, in a cupcake.  I did it, I really did it.  AND, to top it off, literally, you get a sweet little cherry, and POP ROCKS!  I wanted to be able to give you that fizzy in your mouth like a limeade that is carbonated and what better way?  It beat out the idea of just having you pour baking soda and vinegar with a shot of lime down your throat.  Better choice, don't you think?

Here is what you will need for the cake part of this recipe:

White cake mix
Cherry Flavoring
2 limes (zest AND juice)
green food coloring
red food coloring

Mix cake according to package directions EXCEPT, leave out the water it calls for.  At this point divide into 2 bowls.

Bowl 1 gets, half the amount of water called for, 3-5 drops of red food coloring and 3 tsp cherry flavor.  Mix completely.

Bowl 2 gets, zest of one lime, juice from 2 limes into a measuring cup.  Whatever the difference is between the lime juice and half of the measurement needed for water, make up with water added to your lime juice.  Also add 3-5 drops of green food coloring.

Preheat oven to the temperature on the box and line cupcake pan with liners.  (have some that are slightly attractive, unlike mine, thus the missing liner on the photos)

Add green batter to the bottoms of all the liners, about 1 1/2 tbsp, and then add the red/pink batter on top.  You want to make it so this fills the cupcake up 2/3 of the way.  I got 18 cupcakes, but I think you should easily get 20.  I overfilled a handful of them.  Bake according to package directions, they are done when a toothpick inserted, comes out clean.  Let cool completely.  While you are letting them cool, lets get started on the icing!



Lime Buttercreamcheese Frosting
4oz cream cheese at room temp
1 stick butter (room temp)
4 cups powdered sugar  (keep an extra 1/2 cup handy just in case)
green food coloring
2 limes (zest and juice)
marashino cherrys
pop rocks (cherry or strawberry)

Combine all ingredients with a hand mixer or stand mixer.  Mix until completely smooth and all food coloring is mixed in.

I used a piping back, and piped the icing on the cupcakes.  Top with a maraschino cherry, and cherry pop rocks.  If you want, RIGHT before serving you can drizzle a tiny bit of cherry juice over the top to get the rocks crackling while serving!  These are so fun!!  You will be a rock star if you serve these to a bunch of kids OR adults!

Your "buy extra pop rocks for yourself"chefwannabe

Chris

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