Margarita Cupcakes

So last Friday was one of those hot, sunny days that just made you think of tequila, beaches, sun, sand, ocean waves, and a beautiful tropical location.  Since Central Pennsylvania is not one of those sunny, sandy, ocean front places, I felt the need to bring some of the beach to Pa.  Margarita cupcakes seemed to be the answer.  I happened to have some white tequila in my cupboard, an orange in my fruit bowl and lemon cake mix.  I needed to pick up a few things, but let me tell you, they were well worth the few ingredients I needed to stop at the store and pick up.  One bite of these delicious cupcakes and I immediately felt like I was transported to the islands with a cool drink in one hand and a scrumptious cupcake in the other hand.  These are a perfect summer cupcake to make; you can use either white or gold tequila, I used the white and it was very good.  If you're going to serve these outside on a hot day, I could totally see making them and then putting them in the refrigerator to cool them so they actually seem like a cool drink.  So definitely give them a shot (literally and figuratively) and enjoy being transported to an island oasis in your own kitchen. 

Margarita Cupcakes

1 lemon cake mix
1 box lime jello
1 tsp orange zest
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup tequila
3 eggs

Frosting
1 container of whipped white frosting
several drops of lime green food coloring

Decorations
white decoration crystals
a lime cut into small slices
umbrellas (optional)

Heat the oven to 350 degrees.   Line a cupcake pan with cupcakes liners. 
In a large bowl combine the cake mix, lime jello, orange zest, water, oil, tequila, and eggs.  Mix for 30 seconds and then beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.  Put the cake mix into the cupcake pans using an ice cream scoop, this is a great little trick that makes it easier to measure it out.  Fill 3/4 of the way full and then bake for 18 to 23 minutes.  Mine only took 18 and WOW!  the house smelled a little like a tequila party, so enjoy!  Let cool.
While the cupcakes are cooling, mix up the frosting.  Once the cupcakes are cool, ice, sprinkle with the crystals, put the slice of lime on top and put the umbrella on top. 
ENJOY your little slice of beach!