Sweet~Tart Cupcakes

For the past few years I have helped with bake sales at my children's school to help raise funds for drama productions. I have an incredibly creative friend who helps with this, both in baking and coming up with fabulous ideas for treats and promoting the sales. When we found out the play this year would be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, we knew we needed some extra spectacular ideas for bake sales.


Searching in the blogosphere, I found Crybaby Kool-Aid Cupcakes. Wow! Incredible, intense, instant hit with the kids! This lady has some amazing ideas for cupcakes.

I made a few changes and unfortunately not for the better. The idea of the cupcakes sounded terrific and looked fabulous, but my children were disappointed with the results. I was not hindered, though. After some testing and changes, I got a huge thumbs up.

He may not look like he is smiling but that is just the first hit of the sourness.
He LOVED these!

Notes About this Recipe
*Loved the rich color from the kool-aid mix but did not like the effect on the texture of the cupcakes or the frosting. Opted for a lemon cupcake instead.
*Excellent texture, fluffs up and keeps shape.
*Frosting is great, not as sweet as I usually make with all butter. Surprisingly pleased with it.
*Sour then sweet! Just a quick sour bite from the dusted frosting followed by not-to-sweet icing atop a lemony cupcake.

The key is the malic acid that you can find on line. I ordered from Pure Bulk (suggested by the Cook Book Queen). Just fyi, for about $9 you get a rather small packet, but a little goes a long way. Mixed with lemon flavored, unsweetened Kool-Aid mix, this is just the pucker enhancer needed to make these sweet~tart cupcakes!



Sweet Tart Cupcakes
1 box white cake mix
1 3.4 oz box lemon pudding mix
1 c water
4 egg whites
1/4 c vegetable oil
Decorators' Frosting (recipe follows)
2 packets unsweetened lemon Kool-Aid mix
3 tbsp malic acid
sour candies (suggest sour Skittles)

Combine all ingredients in bowl. Stir to mix; beat with mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Scoop into cupcake liners. Using an ice cream scoop to fill liners, I made 22 cupcakes.

Bake in 350 F oven for 18 minutes. Remove and cool completely before decorating.

Mix malic acid and kool-aid mix together. Frost cupcakes but do not sprinkle malic acid mix until ready to serve. Top with sour candies.



Decorator's Frosting
1 c crisco shortening, room temperature
1 c butter, room temperature
6 c powder sugar
1/4 c whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
food coloring, optional

Cream butter and crisco till smooth. Add sugar two cups of sugar and blend well; add two more, blend, two more, then blend. Scrape bowl in between each addition. Add whipping cream, vanilla and salt. Slowly mix to incorporate cream then increase speed to medium and mix well until frosting stiffens 2-5 minutes. Add food coloring and mix completely.