Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

Cupcakes are my latest obsession. Cute. Petite. Delicious. Where can you go wrong? Plus with summer in bloom all I can think of are things to cool you down: popsicles, ice cream, snow-cones, lemonade. And who doesn't love strawberry lemonade? These cupcakes have the perfect lemon punch and the strawberry lemonade frosting is so satisfying that it's almost scary. I will have you know that my nieces and nephews were licking the frosting from the cupcakes and even sneaking it out of the bowl. My nephews Taylor and Austin asked me when I was going to make these cupcakes next, and cute little Austin asked me for my recipe! I was flattered.

Ring a round the rosie...

Photo courtesy of my nephew Taylor.

Cuppy cakey.

My niece Addie with her daddy (my brother) Ira.

Lemonade Cupcakes

[makes 12 cupcakes]

1 cup sugar

6 tablespoons butter

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup milk 

grated zest of two lemons

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cream butter, sugar, and eggs together until fluffy. Add vanilla and lemon zest.
3. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Add half of the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Add the milk and lemon juice. Once mixed, add remaining dry ingredients.
4. Pour into cupcake tins and bake for 20-25 min at 350. Let cool, then frost.

Strawberry and Lemon Buttercream

2 sticks of butter, at room temperature

3 cups of powdered sugar + 1 cup extra

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 -1/2 cup chopped strawberries

grated zest of two lemons

1-2 tablespoons lemon juice

1. In the bowl of your electric mixer, cream butter until smooth. Add in 3 cups powdered sugar slowly with the mixer on low, increasing to combine. Add in vanilla extract. Add in the strawberries, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Mix in the additional cup of powdered sugar. (You may need to add even more). 
2. For the best consistency, place the frosting in the freezer for 10 minutes. Frost the cupcakes either by dunking them or use a knife to spread the frosting.
3. Lick the knife clean :)
4. Garnish with slices of strawberry and lemon.