Quotable Monday and Cosmopolitan Cupcakes!

Happy Monday!  Hope your weekend was full of relaxation and loveliness!

While we wait in anticipation of this just a few days away...

and the long-awaited reunion of these amazing ladies...

and the surprises ahead...

Let us remember this for Quotable Monday:

“But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all, is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous.”

Can't wait to see how the drama unfolds...In the meantime, please enjoy THESE!

Cosmopolitan Cupcakes

with Lime-Cointreau Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup butter

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1/2 tsp salt

2-1/2 tsp baking powder

3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup buttermilk

3/4 cup frozen cranberry juice concentrate or cranberry punch concentrate, thawed

zest of 1 lime

1 cup dried cranberries, chopped

2 drops red food colouring (optional, if you would like a stronger reddish tint in the cake)

1. Allow all ingredients to come to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 350F. Line muffin pans with cupcake papers.

2. With a mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add the eggs 1 at a time and beat until well combined.

3. Combine all dry ingredients in a separate bowl.  Combine buttermilk, thawed concentrate, zest, and cranberries in a separate bowl.  Add in 1 cup each of the dry and wet mixtures alternately, beating on low until the whole mixture is well combined.

4. Fill cups with batter two-thirds full. Bake at 350 F for 20-25 minutes or until cupcakes spring back in the middle when touched lightly. Cool for 10 minutes in pan.

For glaze:

1/4 cup thawed cranberry juice concentrate

1/4 cup vodka

5. Brush with cranberry/vodka glaze when cupcakes are still slightly warm.  When cupcakes are completely cooled, frost with lime-cointreau buttercream:

Lime-Cointreau Buttercream

1/2 c butter

4 c confectioner’s sugar

3 T Cointreau

Juice from 1 large lime

Mix all ingredients on high speed until fluffy!

Double this recipe if you are doing a lot of piping or have more than 2 dozen cupcakes.

Garnish with: (optional)

Pink Sprinkles

Dusting of Lime zest

Dried cranberries

Cheers!  Let the countdown begin!

{Images via google)

XOXO,