Strawberry Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

I've been thinking about new summer cupcake flavors, I wanted something refreshing and sweet with a little tang.  I love fresh sweet strawberries and homemade lemonade and thought they would make a perfect cupcake.

 I made a yummy Vanilla Lemon Cake and added some fresh strawberries, the cupcakes came out so moist and delicious.  I topped them with a Strawberry Lemonade Buttercream, it was amazing!  I had originally planned to use regular lemonade, but only had some pink powder concentrate on hand, which ended up coloring the buttercream the perfect shade of summery pink.

Strawberry Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

Makes 12 Cupcakes

1 1/2 Cups Flour

1 Cups Homemade Vanilla Sugar

1/4 Cup Pink Lemonade Powder, I used Country Time Pink Lemonade

1 1/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

2 Eggs

2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

1/2 Cup Oil

1/2 Cup Milk

Juice of 1 Lemon

1/2 Cup Fresh Strawberries, finely chopped

Directions:

1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees

2.  Line your cupcake pan with your cupcake liners, grease proof liners work best and retain the color of the liners

2.  In a large mixing bowl sift together dry ingredients

3.  Add egg, milk, oil, vanilla and lemon juice, beat on medium speed for 2 minutes

4. With a spoon or spatula, gently fold in strawberries

5.  With a small ice cream scoop fill your cupcakes liners to approximately 2/3 full, about one slightly over filled scoop

6.  Place cupcakes in your preheated oven and bake for approximately 12 minutes.  Gently insert a toothpick into one of your cupcakes, if comes out clean when you pull it out, they're done.

Strawberry Pink Lemonade Buttercream 

Makes enough to generously top 15 - 18 cupcakes

 

2 3/4 Sticks Butter, room temperature

4 Cups Powdered Sugar

1/2 Cup Pink Lemonade Powder, I used Country Time Pink Lemonade

2 Tablespoons Whole Milk

2 Teaspoons Pure Lemon Extract

Zest of 1 Lemon

1/4 Cup Fresh Strawberries, finely chopped

 

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, add butter and 3 cups of sugar and mix on low speed with your paddle attachment.

2. Add the remaining powdered sugar and pink lemonade powder and continue to mix on low speed until just combined.

3. Add the milk, lemon extract and lemon zest and mix on low speed until just combined.

4. Change to your whisk attachment and whip frosting on medium for approximately 20 seconds. 

5. With a spoon or spatula gently fold in strawberries.

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