Cherry Limeade Cupcakes

CAUTION: These are the sweetest cupcakes you will ever eat, in your life!

I have them all cute for Easter since I made them for my family for later today, our Easter on Palm Sunday.

To make the Limeade cupcakes:

1 1/2 cups cake flour (I only had bread flour and didn't notice a difference)

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temp

1/2 cup sugar

2/3 cup limeade concentrate

2 eggs

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin pan with liners.

In a small bowl combine the cake flour, baking powder and baking soda. Stir together and set aside.

In a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, cream the butter and sugar on med-high. Add in the limeade concentrate. Add the eggs, scraping down the bowl after. Add in the flour mixture in thirds, blending slightly after each addition. Mix ingredients just long enough to incorporate (do not over mix).

Divide the batter between the prepared cupcake liners (will make 12 cupcakes). Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserts in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Lime syrup

1/3 cup limeade concentrate

1/4 cup powdered sugar

Whisk limeade and sugar together in a small bowl. Poke holes in the top of the cooled cupcakes, and brush over the top. I brushed two times, and could have been once more.

Cherry Buttercream

3 cups powdered sugar

6 Tbsp. butter, softened

2-3 Tbsp. Maraschino cherry juice (or grenadine) (I had more like 4)

red food coloring (optional)

Mix powdered sugar, butter and maraschino cherry juice in the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix on low speed until sugar is incorporated, then increase to med.-high speed and beat until smooth. Add more maraschino cherry juice as needed to achieve desired texture (or powdered sugar.)

Frost and enjoy!

If I make these again: The buttercream is VERY sweet. It also didn't make quite enough so I would double that next time. Also, I poked holes in it by making a few X with a fork on top of the cupcake.

I found the recipe on The Doctor's Dishes Desserts Decor blog as well (I love her!)