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Elderflower Lemonade Cupcakes

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Elderflower syrup and fresh mint leaves make these cupcakes unique. The lemonade frosting on top makes them unforgettably delicious!

Just a few weeks ago I made Elderflower Lemonade that was amazing. Seriously- you need to try it! After making many batches of it for friends and family, it occurred to me that these flavors would make such good cupcakes! I experimented a bit with the cupcakes, and topped them with my famous lemonade frosting and YUM! I really liked them. A lot!

Plus they are so fun and springtime-y! The only special ingredient you’ll need is Elderflower syrupI got mine on Amazon and you won’t want to skip this ingredient because it is the secret deliciousness behind this recipe. Plus, once you have it you can make the lemonade- and you will not regret it!!

Here is how we made these (printable recipe here):

INGREDIENTS: 

  • One boxed white cake mix (plus eggs and oil to make according to package)
  •  Elderflower syrup (about 1-2 cups depending on boxed mix)
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped mint leaves
  • 2- 8oz. packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened to room temp.)
  • 1 packet (0.23oz.) of Kool-Aid Lemonade
  • 1- 7oz. container Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme
  • 1/3 c. powdered sugar
  • 8 oz. Cool Whip Topping (refrigerator temp)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350F degrees
  • Make cake mix according to package, but replace 1/2 of the required water with elderflower syrup (so if the mix calls for one cup of water, use 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of Elderflower syrup)
  • Bake according to package, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
  • Cool on countertop.
  • Cream together cream cheese, lemonade and yellow food coloring until smooth.
  • Beat marshmallow creme and powdered sugar in and then fold in Cool Whip until completely smooth.  
  • Place frosting in a large zip-top bag, fitted with a decorating tip, and keep in fridge until ready to frost.
  • Before frosting, use a toothpick to poke holes into the top of each cupcake (6-8). Use a pastry brush to generously brush the top of each cupcake with elderflower syrup, allowing it to soak into the holes. 
  • Pipe lemonade frosting on the top of each cupcake and decorate as desired.
  • Keep in a loosely sealed container, refrigerated, for 2-3 days.
  • Enjoy!

My thoughts: These really are such a deliciously different flavor of cupcake. The mint with the lemon- and that yummy syrup… I love them! They are on my permanent list of spring cupcake options! I hope you get a chance to try them! 🙂 ~r

This lemonade frosting has been one of the biggest hits on this blog. It was originally created in 2011 for a Strawberry Lemonade Layer Cake, which is my most popular recipe- ever. This is a little sad to me since my photography in 2011 needed LOTS of improvement, and the photos are awful 🙂

I remade it (making the frosting a bit thicker) in 2012, and used it on cupcakes in 2013.

It is a go-to frosting recipe for sure. It actually tastes like lemonade, and as my friend Laura (the frosting-hater) says: “I love it- it tastes more like a creamy filling than a frosting.”

Spring recipes are SO FUN! Here’s a few more to try (click on photo to see recipe).

 

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Watermelon Cupcakes

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Watermelon Cupcakes

What could be a better picnic treat than these sweet watermelon cupcakes~ covered in “ants” and filled with chocolate chip seeds???

Watermelon Cupcakes

These are so fun to make- and watching people’s surprise at that filling is fun too! My favorite comment? “Oh my, this tastes like WATERMELON!”  Um…yes. It does. *smile*

This recipe uses a cake pop maker. I hesitantly purchased one a few years back to make a polka dot cake, and I thought I’d end up selling it on a garage sale after that one use. NOT SO!!! I love it! So many possibilities! I just made fun little pancake balls the other day for breakfast- not to mention all the yummy recipes we have done here with it! Get a cake pop maker!! (or, if you must, make your pink centers in mini muffin tins. Just know that you are missing out on some serious fun!)

I also used fondant on the top of these cupcakes. I know that for many of you, this step is a tedious one and I say frost these cupcakes however you like! Green frosting, pink frosting with sprinkles of mini chips….whatever! Just don’t miss out on that fun center!

Watermelon Cupcakes

Here’s how we made them: (printable recipe)

INGREDIENTS:

  • One boxed white cake mix (with water, oil and eggs to make according to box)
  • One small packet of watermelon Kool-Aid drink mix
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1 stick of salted butter
  • 1 stick of unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons of clear vanilla
  • Green, Pink, and Black  Food Color Gels
  • One box of Wilton fondant in white (or make your own, using my recipe)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Make cake mix according to package
  • Remove one cup of batter and place in a separate bowl.
  • Add 1/2 a packet of Watermelon Kool-Aid powder (use more or less to taste)
  • Add pink color gel to intensify the color to desired shade
  • Mix in mini chocolate chips.
  • Bake in cakepop maker (or use a small mini-muffin tin), making 24 cake pops (or mini-muffins)

Watermelon Cupcakes CentersWatermelon Cupcakes Centers

  • Add green color gel to remaining batter, mixing well.
  • Spoon a little green batter into a cupcake liner, placed in a cupcake tin.
  • Place pink cake pop on top.
  • Spoon green batter over the top, covering the cake pop. Use less, rather than more batter here- if you use too much it will bake over the edges.
  • Bake at 350F degrees for 15-18 minutes.
  • Cool completely.
  • Make frosting by placing butters, powdered sugar and vanilla in a large mixing bowl and beating on high for 3-4 minutes until very light and fluffy.
  • Color frosting green, if desired, and set aside.
  • IF you use fondant, color a batch with green color gel (leave out a little bit to make ants if desired), cut into circles that fit the top of your cupcakes using a round cookie cutter. Keep circles covered to prevent drying.
  • Working one cupcake at a time, spread frosting and then gently lay fondant on top of frosting and press edges down inside of cupcake liner.
  • Use dark green color gel with a little water (think watercolor paints) to paint on watermelon stripes.
  • Color remaining fondant black and roll into 3 small balls to stick together as an ant on each cupcake. use a toothpick or small brush to paint little ant legs under each ant.

Watermelon CupcakesWatermelon Cupcakes

***If you have used fondant before, this should all be easy, but if this is your 1st time and you are wondering what I mean by things like “color fondant”, see my tutorial on making and using fondant here. You’ll make your ants like the caterpillars shown in the tutorial.***

Watermelon Cupcakes7My thoughts… These are really fun little cupcakes. I’m not a huge fan of watermelon flavor, but only the center is flavored and for me it was the perfect little surprise “pop” of flavor. You could certainly add Kool-Aid to your frosting too- it will just end up being a little pink, rather than green.

Watermelon Cupcakes

Nothing says SUMMER like watermelon~ enjoy these little cupcakes at YOUR next summer celebration!! ~r

Other ways to use that cake pop machine you just got 😉 (click on a photo to see the recipe)

Polka Dot Cake!!!Gender reveal cupcakes5Patriotic Polka Dot Cake!!!!Green Bay Packer Cupcakes!

Leprechaun Truffles

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Green Apple Truffles

These fun truffles are made with green apple (or lime!) Kool Aid filling and they are SO yummy!

It’s the time of year when all things green are made. One of my favorite truffle fillings is made with Kool Aid, which makes the flavors limited only to what little packets of flavor you can find! I made these with green apple Kool Aid, but I’ve made them with lime before too- and they are delicious! This tart fruit filling is SO creamy and smooth. I absolutely love it!

Green Apple Truffles

Here’s how we made these delicious little green treats: (printable recipe)

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese (softened to room temperature!)
  • 3 cups of powdered sugar
  • 3 cups of white chocolate chips
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 (0.16oz) packet of Kool-Aid drink mix (any flavor- I used green apple)
  • 2 bags of Wiltons Candy Melts (in whatever colors you wish)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Cream together cream cheese, powdered sugar and Kool-Aid in a large mixing bowl.
  • Melt white chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second increments (stirring in between) until smooth and creamy.
  • Add melted chips and vanilla to cream cheese mixture and combine until completely smooth.
  • Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  • Remove mixture from refrigerator and use a small cookie scoop or melon baller to make small balls of filling (I placed these on a plate and put them back in the fridge to chill while I prepared my chocolate to dip)
  • Melt the Wilton’s Candy Melts in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring until smooth and creamy.
  • Dip chilled balls of filling in the melted chocolate, draining away excess and placing on parchment paper to harden (if you want pictures of how I dip things click here for a previous recipe) The balls of filling need to stay cold, so keep them in the fridge until you are ready to dip them.
  • Decorate with drizzles of fun colored chocolate. 
  • Enjoy!

Green Apple Truffles

My thoughts: Aren’t they cute? They are SO yummy too… my only recipe tip is to make sure those balls of filling are chilled and your melted candy isn’t super hot. I allowed my candy melts to cool a bit before I dipped. You just don’t want that soft filling to start melting while you dip.

Green Apple Truffles

These are as fun as can be using all sorts of fillings, which makes them a good treat for any holiday!

Kool-Aid Truffles!!

Here they are in other fun flavors. Click on the photo to see how I did them!

Finally, one of our most popular recipes on Easybaked is a St. Patricks Day treat! Bailey’s cupcakes are everyone’s favorite! You should probably try them. 🙂 Again, click on the photo to see the (oh so yummy!) recipe:

Baileys Irish Cream Cupcakes

Kool-Aid Truffles

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These chocolate-dipped truffles have creamy sweet centers made with the unique flavors of Kool-Aid drink mixes!  Your kids will love them!!!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese (softened to room temperature!)
  • 3 cups of powdered sugar
  • 3 cups of white chocolate chips
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 (0.16oz) packet of Kool-Aid drink mix (any flavor- see my choices below)
  • 2 bags of Wiltons Candy Melts in White chocolate or Dark chocolate
  • Sprinkles, cookie crumbles or colored candy melts (I used Blue and Red)

Blue Raspberry Truffle

Lemon-Lime and Graham Cracker Truffle

Chocolate-covered Black Cherry Truffle

White chocolate Mango-Peach Truffle

DIRECTIONS:

    • Cream together cream cheese, powdered sugar and Kool-Aid in a large mixing bowl.
    • Melt white chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second increments (stirring in between) until smooth and creamy.
    • Add melted chips and vanilla to cream cheese mixture and combine until completely smooth.
    • Refrigerate for at least one hour.
    • Remove mixture from refrigerator and use a small cookie scoop to make small balls of filling (I placed these on a plate and put them back in the fridge to chill while I prepared my chocolate to dip)
    • Melt the Wilton’s Candy Melts in the microwave in 30 second increments until smooth and creamy.
    • Dip chilled balls of filling in the melted chocolate, draining away excess and placing on parchment paper to harden (if you want pictures of how I dip things click here for a previous recipe)
    • Decorate with sprinkles, cookie crumbles or drizzles of fun colored chocolate. 

My thoughts:  These are so much fun to make!!  I just love them.  I actually divided the recipe in half (and used just 1/2 of a packet of Kool-Aid) so that I could try lots of flavors and not make 4 full batches.  One batch makes quite a few truffles- about 40 if you use a small cookie scoop to measure them out.  

My warning????  These are SO sweet. (SOOOOOOOO sweet!)  They almost make your teeth hurt they are so sweet.  They are great with a cup of coffee though, and they will cure you of your sugar cravings fast!  

Dipping them in chocolate is always the hard part if you haven’t done much candy making.  Keeping the fillings chilled helps and (of course) practice helps.  They are MUCH easier to dip than cake pops though.  If you don’t want to dip them, I’d suggest chopping chocolate up fine (or cookie bits, or candy bits) and just rolling the finished truffle filling in toppings instead.  Be amazing and create your own flavor combinations– I’d LOVE to hear about what you and your family create!!!  Enjoy!  -r

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