Kool Aid cupcakes recipe

Kool-Aid Man (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you are looking for a fun fruity way to dress up your next batch of cupcakes, here is an easy recipe to perk up your boxed white cake mixes (and white frostings). I made this recipe for my oldest son's birthday party several years ago using orange for the cake and cherry for the frosting-they were a hit. 

KOOL AID CUPCAKES

• White cake mix (and ingredients to complete cake as directed) 
• Can white frosting 
• 1/2 cup pre-sweetened Kool Aid mix 

Directions 
Prepare cake mix following the directions on the box, adding 1/4 cup of your favorite pre-sweetened Kool Aid mix. Mix thoroughly and bake as directed. Add remaining Kool Aid to frosting and mix well. Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.

Cook's Notes-only use pre-sweetened Kool Aid in the canister for this recipe. I have not tested any other Kool Aid variations.

Bengal spice cupcakes recipe

(Photo credit: Alegrya)

Several football seasons ago, I stumbled across Bengal Spice Tea by Celestial Seasonings while grocery shopping. Being a Cincinnati Bengals fan, curiosity got the better of me and I snatched up a box to try. I'm glad I did! It is a tea that will awaken your taste buds as well as your nose. Ever since the first taste of this tea, I have been trying to figure out how to incorporate this tea into my baking recipes. After much brainstorming, I decided to stick with a winning formula and model a recipe after my Earl Grey Cupcakes. The day I made these, I was in a time crunch, so I cheated and used a cake mix instead of making the cake from scratch. The resulting cupcakes were no less delicious. I present to you my recipe for Bengal Spice Cupcakes. Make 'em as minis and serve them for tailgating!

BENGAL SPICE CUPCAKES

• 1 boxed white cake mix and the required ingredients to make the cake as directed EXCEPT the water
• 1-1 1/3 cups strongly brewed Bengal Spice Tea (whichever amount your cake mix calls for)
• 1 can cream cheese frosting
• contents of one additional Bengal Spice teabag, finely chopped
• 1 capful of cinnamon flavor oil from LorAnn's

Directions
Prepare the cake mix as directed by the box, substituting strongly brewed tea in equal amounts for the water. Bake as directed. While cake is baking, empty a second teabag and finely chop the ingredients. Empty the can of prepared frosting into a bowl and stir in cinnamon oil and chopped tea. Stir well to completely blend. When cupcakes have completely cooled, frost each with a generous amount of frosting. For a little extra zip, you can dust each cupcake with a hint of cinnamon or clove. Dust lightly-these should have a delicate flavor with a little kick at the end.

Earl Grey cupcakes recipe

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

These cupcakes are a surprising change from the ordinary. The addition of Earl Grey tea creates a dessert with delicious depth of flavor.

EARL GREY CUPCAKES

• 1/2 cups all purpose flour 
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• scant tablespoon Earl Grey tea 
• 1 1/4 cups sugar 
• 6 tablespoons softened butter 
• 3 egg whites 
• 1 teaspoon orange zest 
• 1/4 teaspoon orange extract 
• 1 cup buttermilk 

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a muffin tin with non-stick spray or line with paper liners. Set aside. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a spice grinder, finely grind tea and add it to the flour. Beat together butter and sugar in a large bowl until well mixed. Add egg whites one at a time, beat well after each addition. Add zest and extract and beat until mixture is smooth. Slowly add in flour and buttermilk, in 2 additions each. Beat until smooth. Pour 1/3 cup of batter into each liner. Bake 20-25 minutes, until golden. Cool completely before frosting with this orange cream cheese frosting.

Happy Groundhog Day!

It's February 2nd and that could mean only 1 thing-it's Groundhog's Day. Groundhog's Day is a Pennsylvania German tradition that is observed in the US and Canada. A groundhog emerging from his burrow and not seeing his shadow is said to signal the end of winter If the groundhog sees his shadow, he will retreat back into his burrow and winter will continue for 6 more weeks.
This year's groundhog predictions are in and these are the results:

• Jimmy the Groundhog of Sun Prairie WI predicted an early spring
• General Beauregard Lee of Snellville GA predicted an early spring
• Malverne Mel of Malverne NY predicted 6 more weeks of winter
• Staten Island Chuck of New York NY predicted early spring
• Woodstock Willie of Woodstock IL predicted early spring
• Wiarton Willie of Wiarton Ontario predicted 6 more weeks of winter
• Punxsutawney Phil of Punxsutawney PA predicted 6 more weeks of winter (he is the most famous of the groundhog meteorologists)
• Spanish Joe of Spanish Ontario predicted 6 more weeks of winter
• Dunkirk Dave of Dunkirk NY predicted early spring
• Buckeye Chuck of Marion OH predicted early spring
• Shubenacadie Sam of Shubenacadie Nova Scotia predicted 6 more weeks of winter

No matter where you live and what your prediction is (Ohio is predicted to have an early spring!), a fun way to celebrate is with these cute cupcakes.

GROUNDHOG CUPCAKES
Ingredients

• chocolate cake mix
• chocolate frosting
• blue or green M&Ms
• brown M&Ms
• mini marshmallows
• vanilla wafers

Directions
Bake cupcakes as directed on the box. Allow to cool then frost. Use 2 vanilla wafers to make the groundhog's ears, 2 blue or green M&Ms for his eyes (make sure the M's are facing into the frosting) and 1 brown for his nose. The 2 marshmallows are his teeth.

Photo Credit Aaron Silvers-Punxsutawney PA

Peanut butter cupcakes recipe

Peanut butter is almost as American as apple pie. People everywhere seem to truly love this rich, creamy condiment. The next time you are craving the taste of peanut butter, skip the PB&J and make these delightful cupcakes instead!

PEANUT BUTTER CUPCAKES
Ingredients

• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 pinch salt

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners, or grease and flour cups.In a large bowl, combine brown sugar, shortening and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time then stir in vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Add the dry ingredients in 2 batches, alternating with the milk. Fill cupcake tins half full. Bake 15-20 minutes. The tops of the cakes will spring back when lightly pressed when done. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

Black bottom cupcakes recipe

These cupcakes feature a rich chocolatey cake base topped with a decadent cream cheese mixture. To. Die. For!!!


BLACK BOTTOM CUPCAKES

1 chocolate cake mix and the ingredients needed to complete the cake (water, eggs and oil)

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 cup sugar

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin pans with paper liners and set aside. Prepare the cake mix according to the directions on the box. In a separate bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips. Fill liners 1/3 full with cake mix and top with the cream cheese mixture. Bake until the cream cheese mixture just starts to turn a light golden color, 20-25 minutes.