Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 3 c cake flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 c unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 c sugar
- ½ c plus 2 tbsp limeade concentrate
- 3 eggs
- ¾ c milk (I used 1%)
Lime Syrup
- ¾ c limeade concentrate
- ½ c confectioners' sugar
Frosting
- 3 ¾ c confectioners' sugar, sifted
- ½ c butter, softened
- 4 tbsp (or more) maraschino cherry juice
- red food coloring (optional)
decorating
- fresh lime slices
- maraschino cherries
Directions
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To make the cakes, preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two muffin pans with paper liners. In a medium bowl combine the cake flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Stir together and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar and beat on medium-high speed until creamed. Add in the limeade concentrate and mix to incorporate. Add the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl between additions. Add in the flour mixture in thirds, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix ingredients just long enough to incorporate but no longer.
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Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake liners. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pans for 5-10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack over wax paper to cool completely.
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Once the cakes have cooled, whisk together the limeade concentrate and confectioners' sugar in a small bowl to make the lime syrup. Poke several holes in the top of each ccake with a skewer and pour the syrup over the ccakes, allowing it to soak in.
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To make the frosting, combine the confectioners' sugar, butter and maraschino cherry juice in the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix on low speed until sugar is incorporated, then increase to medium-high speed and beat until smooth. Add more maraschino cherry juice as needed to achieve desired texture. Add red food coloring if desired.
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Frost cooled cakes. Garnish with lime slices and maraschino cherries