Froot Loop Cupcakes

***Warning: This is a potentially hazardous post containing reference to sugary cereal loops and the encouragement to consume them. Proceed with caution, understanding that admitting you have allowed your children to eat these might win you the Bad Mother of the Year Award and cause you to be the focus of much gossip among mothers who have, as one said, "never let a froot loop cross my children's lips." You've been duly warned.

Now on to the fun. We made these for Claire's birthday yesterday, and they were a hit. Even my Beloved, who is missing a sweet tooth, liked them. The lemon and orange zest add such a nice touch to the ordinary vanilla cupcake. I doubled the recipe and used whole milk.

Froot Loop Cupcakes
from Crepes of Wrath
who adapted them from Gastronomy Blog

1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk 
Zest from 1 orange and 1 lemon
1 1/2 cups Froot Loops
Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and/or line 12 muffin cups.
2. Using a mixer, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and continue to cream for 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla. mixing in well.
3. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix into the butter mixture alternating with the milk in 3 batches (flour, milk, flour, milk, flour). Add orange and lemon zest to batter.
4. Scoop 1/4 cup of the batter into each muffin cup of the prepared pan, and sprinkle the tops with a generous amount of cereal.
5. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the cupcakes are puffed and firm in the center and light golden brown on the edges. When ready, remove from the oven and allow to cool in the muffin tins for about 10 minutes. Remove from the tins and allow them to cool completely before sprinkling with powdered sugar. Makes 12 cupcakes.

Of course, if someone tries to take your cupcake, you might have to give them THIS look, like Cap'n did, to let them know not to mess with you and your froot loops.

Happy Baking!

With love,
Trisha