Sweet Girls and Cupcakes

I got to spend this past Saturday with some of my favorite girls. A very sweet lady at my church started a club for girls called SOCS, which stands for Society of Christian Sisters. The purpose of the group is to give girls a safe and fun place where they are loved, encouraged and supported. At our latest meeting we went out into the community to make some visits and love on some of our shut-in neighbors. And, of course, we wore our fun socks.

I made these cupcakes for us to have once we finished our visiting. I wanted something fun and springy and I also wanted to make something based on a drink since I love the idea of inserting straws as decoration.

**Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes**

For the Cake...

1 box strawberry cake mix

1 box lemon pudding mix

4 eggs

12 oz soda (I used strawberry kiwi)

zest of 1/2 a lemon

3/4 cup of vegetable oil

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix and pudding mix.
3. Add soda, oil and eggs. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.
4. Pour batter into cupcake liners, and bake for 17 - 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
5. Let cool completely (preferably on wire rack) before icing.

For the Frosting...

6 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 stick butter softened
2 cups powdered sugar (+ a little more depending on how much juice your lemon produces)

juice of 1/2 a lemon

1. In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy.
2. Mix in the lemon juice, then gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar.
3. Store in the refrigerator after use.
*{If you like the icing a little more tart, you could add a packet of strawberry lemonade Crystal Light before the powdered sugar.}

This recipe is based off my friend Maci's recipe for Mt. Dew Cake.