Weekend Baking: Key Lime Pie Cupcakes

My grandmother used to make the best key lime pie.  I remember her trying to teach me how to make it once and it taking forever – everything was made from scratch and each key lime needed to be juiced individually.  Unfortunately, I didn’t really appreciate her key lime pie when I was a kid, but now that I’m a bit older, I love key lime pie.  It’s sweet, it’s bitter, and it’s perfection on a hot summer day.  So when I saw a recipe for easy key lime cupcakes made using a boxed cake mix, I knew I had to try it.  Cupcakes + Key Lime Pie = Bliss!

For the cupcakes you will need:

1 box lemon cake mix

1 box lime flavored gelatin (4 serving size)

3/4 cup water

1/3 cup Key Lime juice

1/3 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

2 drops green food coloring

For the glaze you will need:

1 cup Confectioners sugar

2 Tbsp & 1 tsp Key Lime juice

For the frosting you will need:

1 package cream cheese, soften (8 oz size)

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Grated lime peel (optional)

Step 1:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake pan with paper baking cups (approximately 18-24).

Step 2:  Combine all cupcake ingredients in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer for 30 seconds on low speed and then for 2 minutes on medium speed. Spoon batter into cupcake tins, filling 2/3 full.

Step 3:  Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Once removed from oven, pierce the tops of the cupcakes in 5-8 places with a tooth pick.  Remove the cupcakes from pan and allow to cool.**Make sure not to over bake your cupcakes.  I left mine in for 24 minutes and as a result they browned a bit on the bottom.  It didn’t affect the taste at all, but I wish I had taken them out earlier so they would have been a bit prettier.

Step 4:  In a small bowl, mix the ingredients for the glaze with a fork or whisk until it is smooth and thin enough to drizzle.  Drizzle glaze over the top of the cupcakes and then spread with a knife.  Allow glaze to dry completely (approximately 20-30 minutes).

Step 5:  In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter on medium speed until light and fluffy.  Add vanilla and Confectioners sugar and beat on low speed until smooth.  Frost cupcakes and top with grated lime peel.

Enjoy this little bite of summer!