Rio Star Cupcakes

On the menu for today: Rio Star Cupcakes…. a sweet treat for your Valentines Day sweetie.

Here is what you need for the cupcakes: flour, baking powder, salt, butter, sugar, eggs, greek yogurt, vanilla, and Rio Star Grapefruit zest.

For the frosting: cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, Rio Star Grapefruit zest, Rio Star Grapefruit juice, and red food coloring.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  A nice average temperature.

Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.

Add the eggs, and mix until smooth.

Add half of the flour mixture, and combine.  Then repeat with remaining flour mixture.

Add baking powder, and mix to combine.

Now toss in the Greek yogurt and vanilla.  Mix, mix, mix – to combine.

Now for the good part!!! Add Rio Star Grapefruit zest.  FUN FACT: Did you know one grapefruit can yield up to 2 tablespoons of grapefruit zest? YUM!

Add to muffin pan lined with cupcake liners and pop these little bites of deliciousness in the oven.

NOTE: you can also use a mini-cupcake pan.  Bake for 10-15 minutes, until tops spring back when touched lightly in center.

Now… on to the frosting!

Beat cream cheese in an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy.

Add powdered sugar, vanilla, Rio Star Grapefruit zest and Rio Star Grapefruit juice; beat until smooth.

Add a tiny bit of red or pink food coloring to the frosting, or leave white if you prefer a more natural look.

Frost with a small spatula, butter knife or piping bag…. and ENJOY!!

Rio Star Grapefruit Cupcakes

Ingredients

Cupcakes

2 cups all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup unsalted butter

1 1/3 cups granulated sugar

4 large eggs

1 cup 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

4 tablespoons Rio Star Grapefruit zest

Frosting

1 (8 ounce) block cream cheese, chilled

4 cups powdered sugar

1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon pink grapefruit zest and 2 teaspoons pink grapefruit juice

2 drops red food coloring

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. To make cupcakes, combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.

3. Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs; mix until smooth. Add half of flour mixture, and combine; repeat with remaining flour mixture. Add yogurt and vanilla; blend at low speed. Blend in zest. Scoop dough into baking cups (about 2/ 3 full); bake until tops spring back when touched lightly in center (about 10-15 minutes). Remove from oven; cool completely.

4. To make frosting, place cream cheese in a medium bowl; beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, grapefruit zest, and grapefruit juice; beat until smooth.

5. Divide the frosting into 2 bowls. Add food coloring to 1 bowl; mix with a spatula until frosting is light pink. Frost cupcakes, and ENJOY!!!