Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

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I made these Mint Chocolate Chip cupcakes for the beer bottling party. Even though I adore pink lemonade, I know that other people prefer their sweets to be of the chocolate variety.

I think the recipe for this might have come from Curious Cupcakes but I can't remember which member posted it. I was drawn to the recipe because I love Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream, and since the recipe calls for Chocolate Milk, I was intrigued.

I made these the day before the party, and I can't tell if that is why the cake was a little dry. The mint came out nicely, but I think next time I might use a different chocolate cake recipe.

The frosting is a mint merengue and once again I could not get the merengue to fluff up as much as it should have. I honestly think it is because I couldn't get the burner up to a high enough temperature. I might stop using merengue until I have a different stove. I tinted the merengue green with food coloring, because I always think mint when I see green food. I topped the merengue with sugar sprinkles and mini chocolate chips.

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

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My husband had a beer bottling party a few weeks back (he brews and bottles his own beer). Everyone brought a different kind of beer to share. I figured it would be a good idea to have something more substantial than chips and dip for food. So, cupcakes it was!

I chose the Pink Lemonade cupcake because Pink Lemonade is one of my all time favorite drinks, especially in the summer. It's crisp and fresh, with just the right amount of sour taste.

I got the recipe online at the Foodie Bride blog. I ultimately cut the lemonade concentrate down (per the recipe) as I would rather have them less tart than overly tart. I think that was a wise choice and they came out perfectly. They were moist and had a great fresh taste- perfect for summer. I added a little bit of red food coloring to the dough to ensure that the cake would come out pink.

The Lemon buttercream was better than I could have imagned. I was worried that the lemon flavor would be strange in a buttercream, but I shouldn't have. It was great, and the perfect compliment to the cake. I added yellow food coloring because I thought the yellow frosting went well with the pink cake. I topped them off with pink sugar sprinkles.

If you like lemonade- these are the perfect cupcakes for you. I imagine they can also be made with limeade concentrate, which sounds delish.

Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes

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I was searching for a nice, light, summery cupcake to make when I visit my parents for their Mortgage Burning Party. I found a lot of great baking blogs, and on 52 Cupcakes I found the recipe for Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes with Marshmallow Fluff Frosting. I used to love Orange Creamsicles growing up, and I know my Dad has a special affinity for them too, so I decided to give the recipe a try.

The recipe itself was really easy. Cake mix from a box and an addition of pudding mix (not instant). Viola! And the cupcakes came out very airy, light, and moist. I took the first 12 out of the oven a little earlier than I should have, because they looked done.

I was also a little concerned that the Marshmallow Fluff frosting would be too sweet, however I was pleasantly surprised. The frosting melts easily though (we've had normal weather for June, high 70's and the 80's), so I would recommend putting these in the fridge until you're ready to eat them, if you live in a house sans A/C (like I do). I tried to tint the frosting orange, but regular food coloring was not cutting it (as you can see from the first photo), I bought frosting food coloring for next time.

ETA: I made these again in July, and the food coloring and more artful frosting make them look even yummier!