Raspberry Lemonade Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream Frosting

We're having such gorgeous weather this week!  I absolutely love summer and all that comes with it!  One of my favorite simple summer drinks is raspberry lemonade.  It's super-refreshing and makes me think of picnics and lazy days in the sun.  I thought I'd re-create this favorite of mine in cupcake form with a raspberry lemonade cupcake!

I started with a simple lemon cake recipe for my cupcakes, then piped in some raspberry filling.  I used my favorite buttercream frosting recipe, and simply added some more of that yummy filling to the frosting for some extra raspberry goodness.

Lemon Cupcakes (recipe compliments of allrecipes.com)
3 cups self-rising flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, room temp
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs, room temp
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp lemon zest
1 cup whole milk, divided
2 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice, divided

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Line 30 cupcake pan cups with paper liners.

Sift the self-rising flour and salt together in a bowl. In another bowl, beat the unsalted butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating each egg until incorporated before adding the next. Mix in the vanilla extract and lemon zest.

Gently beat the flour mixture into the butter mixture, one third at a time, alternating with half the milk and half the lemon juice after each of the first 2 additions of flour. Beat until just combined; do not over mix.

Fill the prepared cupcake liners with batter 3/4 full, and bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 17 minutes. Let the cupcakes cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before removing them to finish cooling on a rack.

I added some yummy raspberry pastry filling that I picked up from my favorite baking supply shop **shout out to Vanilla Bean in Madison, Wisconsin**

Next, I made the raspberry buttercream frosting by simply adding some of that filling to my favorite buttercream recipe

Raspberry Buttercream Frosting
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
1Tbsp milk
2-3 Tbsp raspberry pastry filling
4 cups powdered sugar

Cream butter, add vanilla and raspberry filling.  Gradually add sugar one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed.  Add milk & beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.

I topped my cupcakes with a bit of lemon zest.  YUM!

Brownie Cupcakes

Who doesn't love a rich chocolaty cupcake? This cupcake is the perfect combination of cake and brownie mixed into one single-serve treat!  Topped with a cloud of sweet vanilla fluff that will make anyone smile, these cupcakes are sure to please!

Brownie Cupcakes
2 cups boiling water
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
2 1/4 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat over 350 degrees.  Line your muffin tins with cupcake liners

In a medium bowl, pour boiling water over cocoa powder, whisk until smooth.  Let mixture cool.  Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.  Add the flour mixture alternately with the cocoa mixture. 

Fill cups about 2/3 full
Bake in preheated oven about 21 -23 minutes.  Allow to cool.  Pipe with fluffy vanilla frosting.

 

People are loving this frosting.  So much so, that I thought I should share the recipe!

Fluffy Vanilla Frosting
2/3 cup sugar
2 large egg whites
1 1/2 cup salted butter (yes, THREE sticks of butter) room temperature, cut into 2inch chunks
1 2/3 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp vanilla

In a heat proof bowl, whisk granulated sugar and egg whites together. Place over a pot of simmering water and continue to whisk for 3-5 minutes, until mixture is hot to the touch and thinned.

 

Remove from heat and pour into the bowl of a mixer. Beat on medium high with the whisk attachment for about 7 minutes, until it forms a white meringue that is cool to the touch. Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add the butter. Beat another 5 minutes or so until the butter is completely incorporated.

 

Add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until the mixture is satiny.

 

Pipe onto cupcakes and enjoy!!

About the Busy Baker Lady

I'm not a professional baker by any means!  I'm a busy business lady who has found baking sweets and treats for family and friends to be a great source of relaxation in my crazy little world!  As far back as I can remember, I've loved to bake treats.  I get so much happiness out of the smiles that come from a bite into one of my creations.  There really is so much joy in making someone happy!