Need a good picnic dessert? I made these for some of my friends with summer birthdays and we took them to Zilker Park. From the feedback I received, I think they were a fan favorite! I was pretty impressed with how they turned out as well. It's the perfect light treat with a berry tang that won't leave you feeling weighed down on a hot day!
Ingredients (Fluffy Vanilla Cupcakes)
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/2 cup hot water
Instructions (Cupcakes)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake pan with liners.
In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
In a medium bowl, whisk milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and eggs.
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and beat until well combined.
Slowly add hot water to batter and mix until well combined.
Fill cupcake liners about halfway and bake for 17 minutes.
Let cupcakes cool for about 2 minutes.
Ingredients (Berry Flavorful Frosting)
1 cup freeze-dried blueberries
1 cup freeze-dried strawberries and bananas
1 cup unsalted butter
4 cups powdered sugar
3-4 tbs milk
pinch of salt
fresh berries of choice for topping
Instructions (Frosting)
Add freeze-dried fruit to blender and blend until moist and mushy grain.
Add butter to large mixing bowl and mix until smooth.
Add half of the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
Add up to 3 tbs of milk and a pinch of salt and mix until smooth.
Add remaining powdered sugar and freeze-dried fruit mush and mix until smooth, adding splashes of milk as needed.
I got a Cupcake Frosting Tip set to do the cupcake decorating and definitely recommend for pushing your cupcake over-the-top on "looks." Or you can always put the frosting in a Ziplock bag, cut the tip, and frost that way. Make sure the icing is still a little chilled and the cupcakes are completely cooled to hold it's shape. Add the cut berries to the frosting to make them look extra fancy!