Voting is now open! Please vote for me HERE under Bakeaholic! Vote now!! Thanks =)

Voting is now open! Please vote for me HERE under Bakeaholic! Vote now!! Thanks =)

Ever since I saw the Iron Cupcake Earth challenge was CRANBERRY I began brainstorming immediately! I knew I wanted to do something out of the {cake} box, something different than cranberries and chocolate! Seeing as how my drink of choice is a Cosmopolitan, thought about making a cupcake that resembled a martini! Cosmo’s do have cranberry juice in them, but I thought a Crantini fit even better! So I began thinking of what to make them with, cranberries of course, and the frosting had to have Vodka! Let me tell you, the icing is delicious! My taste-testers could have eaten the entire bowl! So here is my entry to the IC: Earth Challenge with Crantini Cupcakes, Cran-Vanilla cupcakes with Lime Vodka Frosting. Much love to Jordan for taking the pictures again =)

If you like my Crantini-Cupcake creation please vote for me! Now! That means..right now! ( please =) )

This Months Prizes are:

• Lollipop Workshop
• Cookie Sunshine
• Lots of Sprinkles
• Cakespy
• Sweet Cuppin Cakes Bakery and Cupcakery Supply
• Head Chefs
• Hello Cupcake
• Jessie Steele Aprons
• Cupcake Courier
• Taste of Home
• 1-800-Flowers

You can vote Now!! here for the Iron Cupcake Earth Challenge.

If you would like my recipe click here.

Here’s the recipe for the frosting I used on my IC: Earth Crantini Cupcakes

Vodka-Lime Frosting

Ingredients:

3/4 Cup Butter

1/4 Cup Shortening

1 tsp. Vanilla

4-5 cups Powdered {icing} Sugar, Sifted ( The amount will vary on what type of consistency you want )

1-2 tsp. Milk

2 Limes (1 for zesting and Juice, and 1 for garnish)

1 Tbsp. Vodka

*Splash of Cranberry juice

Directions:

Before you begin, zest one lime and squeeze out its juices into a cup. Set aside the lime zest and juice to add later. Sift icing sugar into a large bowl so you can easily measure it out once you start.

Using a stand mixer, cream softened butter and shortening, add vanilla and mix until smooth.

Add sugar gradually, 1/2 cup at a time. Once you’ve added 1 cup, mix in milk. Once you’ve gotten the milk mixed in, gradually add sugar and lime juice alternating.

Once you have mixed all the lime juice in, add the vodka {this can be omitted if you don’t want to add alcohol.} Once you have mixed in all the juices, add the rest of the sugar slowly until you achieve the desired consistency. You will want it to be stiff enough to pipe, so you want to be sure that it is not too watered down with the lime juice and vodka. You may add more/less lime juice depending on how much flavor you want.

If you want to, you may add some coloring to the frosting. Add this last, or separate the icing into different mixing bowls to use different colors. Preferably use gel food coloring, so it does not add more liquid.

*For the pink icing I also added a splash of cranberry juice for Cranberry Lime Frosting.

Garnish:

For the Crantini cupcakes, I decided to give them a sugared rim (using Bar Sugar) and top them off with sugared cranberries and lime wedges.

I used  this recipe for the Sugared Cranberries, if you don’t want to go to all the hassle you can just use raw cranberries washed, and tossed in superfine sugar. Place in fridge for a few minutes to harden.