Pink Lemonade Cupcakes for Valentine’s Day!
Valentineโs Day is coming up quickly, and like every other holiday, we make a big deal of it.
Wreath for the front door? Hung earlier this week.
Treats and decorations bought to surprise kids with on Valentineโs Day morning? Bought and hidden.
Plans for the husband and I? Going to the Queen Mary aka the Love Boat.
Outfit for the day? Hmmmm, no, not there yet. Maybe that morning I will decide. Ideally, Iโd go shopping but the way this week is shaping up? Wonโt happen!
I even have one of our treats made and displayed: Pink Lemonade Cupcakes! These are a favorite around here, and when you have four kids, itโs not always easy to get everyone on the same page but these cupcake babies made it easy. Who doesnโt like lemonade? Itโs tart. Itโs pink. Itโs got a tinge of strawberry flavor AND they are a perfect blend of cream cheesy goodness mixed with the traditional buttercream weโre fond of.
Baking, for our family, has been an exploration and led us into some new opportunities but we also enjoy it. Making cupcakes can be a family affair. Instead of having mom standing at the mixer, then running to the oven then doing all the decorating because thereโs only one big item and you want it to be consistent, cupcakes can be broken into stations, or steps. Have one person work on the batter, another fill the cups, another work on the frosting, and then everyone can join in on the decorating. Want to change it up after youโve decorated half? Throw some blueberries into the food processor or mixer, depending on the consistency you seek, and put them in the rest of the frosting. Youโll end up with a nice blue tinge and a lemon-blueberry product that everyone will like. (My word of advice: if you add fruit, like we did, be prepared to add another cup or so of powdered sugar, as the juice can soften up the frosting and make it unable to hold a shape.) Having a cupcake catering business is a natural by-product for a family who likes to bake together and get creative, so cupcakes like these Pink Lemonade Cupcakes are always going to be a favorite!
These cupcakes are surprisingly easy to make. It actually starts with a basic white cupcake batter recipe, I created, but I never leave things basic. I throw in little tweaks like buttermilk instead of regular milk, and a different extract or an extra egg white. The secret to this batter is that it has FIVE egg whites in it. I know that sounds like a lot but when you whip them up and fold them in, you not only see the batter expanding with air but it turns into this beautiful texture and color.
Then to change it up, instead of half of the sugar, I used the Country Time Pink Strawberry Lemonade powder. You may want to sub in less of it, as itโs pretty potent, but weโre a hearty bunch of tart-lovers so we wanted it to really pack a punch. It worked!
One more secret I will share: if you have a batter mixed, including the egg whites, and then determine itโs not sweet enough, put the additional sugar (or lemonade powder) into a small bowl with a tablespoon of warmer water. Dissolve the sugar/powder first, then mix it in with the batter in your bowl. It doesnโt get grainy and it incorporates properly.
Arenโt they pretty? We had a little fun with the sprinkles, and they remind me of a white-chocolate covered Valentineโs Day strawberry, the ones covered in similar heart sprinkles! With the lemonade powder also having strawberry flavor, itโs a little bit of a play on their decadent berry dessert, but with a whole lot more calories and fat than the strawberry. Thereโs room for both on Valentineโs Day, right? Life is all about healthy indulgences and enjoyment, and fruit dipped in chocolate can never be wrongโฆjust like a good portion-controlled cupcake. Stop at one cupcake and itโs all good!
These look so incredible!! Yum yum!
Thanks! They were a group effort, something we’re going to keep doing.
Delicious and my little girl loves pink lemonade. Love your secret tip too!
Thanks! They were really simple and I like finding a flavor profile that appeals to everyone. Enjoy!
Wow my mouth is watering! Those cupcakes look sooo yummy!
Thanks, Cindy — we really enjoyed them. Chocolate’s so common with cupcakes — as it should be — but we like to be a little more ‘dangerous’ with our menu list. This is going on it for sure!
I think my son would love that! Thinking about making them for Valentine’s day! Thank you for sharing it!
You’re welcome, Claudia! I hope your son enjoys them — happy Valentine’s day!
Those are beautiful & look absolutely delicious.
Thanks! They were a lot of fun. We’re working on some new ones that will be posted on the blog later today. Can’t wait!
Oh they sound like a perfect cupcake for Valentine’s Day.