Cherry Lime Cupcakes

My affinity for pudding helped me brainstorm these lovely cupcakes. The frosting is lime, there are cherries in the batter, and they are filled with cherry pudding.
Since I made them for a get together that began at 10 a.m., I used some short cuts to make things easier.

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Ingredients

Cake--

1 box yellow cake mix, plus ingredients called for on the box

1 ten oz jar maraschino cherries

Filling--

1 box instant vanilla pudding

1 3/4 cup cold milk

3-5 drops of cherry candy flavoring

2 drops red food coloring

Frosting--

1/3 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 tablespoon lime juice

4 cups powdered sugar

2-4 teaspoons milk, for consistency

Cake

1. Make cake batter according to directions on the box, including preheating the oven.

2. Drain maraschino cherries and chop into quarters. Fold into batter.

 3. Scoop into paper liners.
Tip: A cookie scoop is helpful.

Mini muffin tin

Regular size

 4. Bake according to package directions.
Minis--9-13 minutes
Regular size--15-18

Filling

1. Add pudding mix, 1 3/4 cup milk, 3 drops of cherry candy flavoring, 1 drop of red food coloring. Use a whisk or a hand mixer to beat on low 30 seconds. Then beat quickly for 2 minutes. Taste and add more candy flavoring as needed. Refrigerate as you make the frosting.

2. When the cup cakes have cooled, put pudding in a piping bag with a long tip. Insert tip in the center of the cup cake and gently squeeze a little into each cupcake.

It's actually best to hold the piping bag exactly vertically.
Apparently my skills are impeded by handling a camera :)

Frosting

1. Beat softened butter until creamy, then beat in the lime juice. Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. Add milk 1 teaspoon at a time for consistency. 

2. Place in piping bag and frost.

Shared with

Retro Re-Pin Party 13