Pink Grapefruit Cupcakes with Pink Grapefruit Cream Cheese Frosting

It seems we save cupcakes for a special occasion – to celebrate a birthday, a holiday, an accomplishment, etc.  When I made these cupcakes, I didn’t have any particular occasion in mind.  I decided to make these Pink Grapefruit Cupcakes ‘just because.’  Just because it’s been a while since I last made cupcakes.  Just because there is always a reason to celebrate something.  Just because citrus is aplenty right now,…let’s try something new!

These cupcakes are really easy to make and a unique way to enjoy grapefruit.  The cake alone has a subtle citrus flavor – just enough grapefruit flavor without being overpowering.  When topped with the grapefruit cream cheese frosting, it becomes dangerouly good.  The cream cheese gives the right amount of tang to balance the grapefruit flavor and brings it all together into a sweet and delicious cupcake.

Pink Grapefruit Cupcakes were fun to make, fun to eat, and fun to share…all just because. 😉

Pink Grapefruit Cupcakes with Pink Grapefruit Cream Cheese Frosting
 
Yields: 12 cupcakes
Ingredients
  • Cupcakes:
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • ⅔ cup granulates sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt (nonfat or 2% reduced-fat)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons pink grapefruit zest (1 softball-sized grapefruit yielded approximately 1 tablespoon)
  • Frosting:
  • 4 ounces ⅓-less-fat cream cheese, chilled (block)
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon pink grapefruit zest
  • 2 teaspoons pink grapefruit juice
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. Set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.
  3. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs; mix until smooth.
  4. To the butter mixture, add half of flour mixture, and combine; repeat with remaining flour mixture. Add yogurt and vanilla, blending with a rubber spatula. Fold in zest, mixing until just combined.
  5. Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups (about ⅔ full). Bake for 13-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
  6. To make the frosting, place cream cheese in a medium bowl and baet on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla zest and juice, beating until smooth. Frost cupcakes as desired.
Notes
If not serving immediately, cupcakes/frosting should be refrigerated, otherwise, the frosting gets too soft. When serving, let cupcake sit out for 10-15 minutes at room temperature.

Adapted from Health

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Comments

  1. These look light and refreshing-love the pink grapefruit icing-YUM!

  2. I used to feel the same way, but now I see cupcakes as a great way to just celebrate every day! And it makes my kids so excited to get home from school!

  3. Wow, these are gorgeous! Love the colors in your photos 🙂 I can’t stomach grapefruit fresh, but when baked in, I love them 🙂

  4. These look and sound delicious – it might actually be a cupcake I like :)!

    Great idea, and I love that you made them “just because”.

  5. Grapefruits are my absolute favorite fruit. I made grapefruit scones last year and they were wonderful–I can only imagine how good these grapefruit cupcakes are! Definitely added this to my list of things to make!

  6. Grapefruit is my fave! I love it in anything. Can’t wait to try these.

  7. These look delicious! What a great idea to incorporate grapefruit into cupcakes!

  8. I would much rather have these little cupcakes than a big cake any day. They do look delicious and I imaging they are just bursting with wonderful citrus flavor. Yum!

  9. Oooh, the first time I see grapefruit being used for a cake/cupcake recipe!:) It sounds lovely, yet exotic and flavorful at the same time;)
    I just had a grapefruit a few days ago myself, no, not in this awesome way like yours :p

  10. I love grapefruit and your cupcakes are positively stunning!

  11. They look like real jewelry! 🙂

  12. These look positively delicious. I have been dying to try this type of cupcake. I keep wanting to wait till spring but I may have to give in and have at it. Great job, yours are gorgeous.

  13. Yummy!! I love grapefruit but it can be difficult to use in recipes because of the tartness and bitterness. What a great way to sweeten it up 😀

  14. I don’t think I’ve seen pink grapefruit cupcakes before – these look amazing! So pleased that you decided to make a cupcake just because 🙂 thanks for linking up to #citruslove

  15. Great way to use grapefruit! They look light, refreshing, & delicious!

  16. These are so beautiful! I love grapefruit this time of the year and it would be delicious in cupcakes!

  17. Wow! These look fabulous! Love the cream cheese frosting.

  18. I love lemon cupcakes and have never tried a grapefruit one. I bet they are amazing. thanks for sharing.

  19. These sound so good! I’m starring this on my blog reader for later, I definitly need to try these out. I’ve made grapefruit yogurt honey scones for my blog, and they were very good. But I imagine the richness of the cream cheese from the frosting in these really balances out the tartness of the grapefruit. 🙂

  20. I am in love with these. I adore grapefruit and cupcakes. Total win!

  21. Alida,
    Thanks for giving me the link to include in my upcoming Band Fruit Fundraiser Recipe Round Up! It will be published on 12/4/2013!