My Kitchen Addictions: Just Plain Fun

Why is everyone so crazy for cupcakes? It's simple---cupcakes are fun! Do you need an occasion to make cupcakes? Not me! This particular time, though, I made cupcakes for a trivia night our school held to raise funds for Relay for Life. I'm always in search of new and innovative cupcake designs. These Margarita Cupcakes found me one day when I was looking through a cupcake cookbook in our school library. Just so my readers will know....I substituted the lime juice for the tequila. I was being a good school librarian.

Margarita Cupcakes
Makes 22 cupcakes
1 package (about 18 ounces) white cake mix
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons margarita mix, divided
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon grated lime peel (about 3 limes), divided
Juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons tequila or lime juice
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon sparkling or granulated sugar
1 tablespoon salt (optional)
Green and yellow food coloring
Lime peel strips (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 22 standard (2 1/2-inch) muffin cups with paper baking cups.

2. Combine cake mix, 3/4 cup margarita mix, eggs, oil, water, 1 teaspoon lime peel and lime juice in large bowl. Whisk 2 minutes or until well blended. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling two-thirds full.

3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in pans 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

4. Combine tequila (or lime juice), remaining 2 tablespoons margarita mix and 2 teaspoons lime peel in medium bowl. Gradually whisk in powdered sugar until desired glaze consistency is reached. Combine sparkling sugar and salt, if desired, in small bowl. Add food coloring, a few drops at a time, until desired shade of green is reached.