Pink Velvet Cupcakes with Cosmopolitan Buttercream - "Sex And The City" Bridal Shower

I got a call on Tuesday from my girlfriend Ally.  Last weekend I made cupcakes for  her for a Baby Shower.  This time, she was calling to order cupcakes for a Bridal Shower with a "Sex and the City" theme.  Each of the attendees was being asked to come as their favorite "Sex and the City" character.  I knew the cupcakes had to be pink and had to taste like a Cosmopolitan.  I also wanted them to have some fun cupcake toppers.  I decided to make a Pink Velvet Cupcake with Cosmopolitan (Cranberry Lime) Buttercream accented with a Candy Lime Wedge.  I think the turned out pretty cute and they were really yummy!!  Ally loved them.

Pink Velvet Cupcakes
Makes 33 Cupcakes

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 1/4 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
3 eggs
1/4 teaspoon pink gel food coloring
1 1/4 teaspoons white vinegar
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/8 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line cupcake pan with paper liners.  Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder into a bowl and set aside.

In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix oil, sugar and buttermilk until combined.  Add eggs, food coloring, vinegar, vanilla and water and mix well.  Add the dry ingredients a little bit at a time and mix on low scraping down sides occasionally and mix until just combined.  Be sure not to over mix, or the batter will come out tough.

Using an ice cream scoop, scoop the batter into the liners and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool.

 

Cosmopolitan (Cranberry Lime) Buttercream
1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp Cosmopolitan drink mixer
1 tsp lime zest
5-1/2 cups powdered sugar
Pink gel icing color
Green Sugar Sprinkles
Lime Candy Slices cut in wedges

Directions: In a large bowl, beat butter until light and fluffy, approximately five minutes.  Add half the powdered sugar.  Add the lime juice, Cosmopolitan mix, and lime zest. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add more powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and continue beating until smooth. If icing is too thin, add more powdered sugar, a couple tablespoons at a time. Tint icing with food coloring. (Gel icing colors enable you to tint icing without watering it down.)

Spread or pipe icing onto each (completely cooled) cupcake. Garnish with sprinkles and a candy lime wedge.

 

 

The cute toppers were made from a free down loadable file from Hostess With The Mostess.