Pimped Out Topless Cupcakes

I despise box mixes but I found this idea for cut-out muffin-tops so I decided to try it cupcakes. Box mix tends to have a spongier texture so I thought it might work out.

I used Pillsbury white cake mix, prepared as usual but I substituted of 1/4 cup of the water required with 2 heaping tablespoons of organic lemon yogurt and 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice and a teaspoon of lemon zest. Smelled so good.

Fill each cupcake to the brim because you will need them to be coming over so that you can cut them off later.
Wait till slightly cooled and gently cut each top off and lay flat. I used a heart cookie cutter but whatever you have handy and press in middle and carefully pick out middle piece and put aside. Sift confectionery sugar over the top of your cut-outs.

ICING the ladies: I used a cream cheese icing and added 3 drops of organic red food coloring & a tablespoon of raspberry jam to get a pretty pink color. Ice the tops of all your topless cupcakes and then place the tops back on! You can use the leftover hearts to decorate some or just eat them;)

These cupcakes really taste homemade! Nice lemony flavor & super cute for Valentine's Day.

Organic Cupcakes Take the Cake...Blueberry White Tea Cupcakes;)

1/2 cup unsalted butter organic softened, 1 cup organic cane sugar, 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 1/2 cups organic unbleached all-purpose flour, 1 3/4 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 cup strongly brewed Starbucks Berryblossom white tea, 2 tbsp skim milk powder.
Cream together butter, sugar, beat in eggs one at a time, add vanilla, sift together dry ingredients and add to wet mixture alternately with brewed tea.
Bake at 350 F for 20 - 25 minutes. Makes 12 cupcakes.

To make the frosting, I just used brewed white tea rather than water in a standard fluffy frosting (water, sugar, cream of tartar, vanilla, egg whites). The tea flavour was not very noticeable in the frosting, unfortunately, but definitely there in the cupcake. You could grind white tea leaves into a powder and add those to the batter for a stronger flavour, but I wanted something mild.