Pink Grapefruit Cupcakes

This recipe came as a suggestion from my friend Shannon.  The recipe calls for mini-cupcakes, and it's only 116 calories per cupcake.  I assumed since I made regular sizes cupcakes they were about double that, so around 230 calories.  Not too bad!  I brought these into work for a lunch, and everyone loved them.  They were all trying to guess the flavor, because they could tell it was different.  Overall, these turned out awesome, and the low fat ingredients make them even better!

Start by combining flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.  Beat butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

Add eggs and mix until smooth.

Add half of flour mixture and combine.  Repeat with the remaining flour mixture.

I used 2% low fat Greek yogurt for the recipe, and thought it was great in these cupcakes!

Add yogurt and vanilla and beat at low speed.

Blend in zest.  Confession: I only bought one grapefruit, so I was a little short on the zest.  They didn't have as distinct of a grapefruit taste, but were still delicious.

Scoop dough into cupcake papers, and fill about 2/3.  Bake at 350 degrees F until the top springs back when touched lightly in the center.  I baked for around 14 minutes. 

Remove from oven and let cool completely.

I thought this grape fruit was so pretty!

Squeeze about two tablespoons of grapefruit juice out for the frosting.

To make the frosting,  place cream cheese in a medium bowl; beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy.  Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and grape fruit juice, beat until smooth.  Add food coloring and mix until frosting is light pink.  Frost cupcakes when completely cooled. 

These were so tasty!  Pretty light, but full of flavor.  The Greek yogurt adds protein and keeps the cupcakes moist.  The grapefruit flavor is fresh and adds something different.  Thanks Shan for the great recipe!!!  PS These would also be great as an Easter treat :)

I hope everyone has a great weekend.  My whole famn damily is in town, as of this afternoon.  They have been trickling in as the week has gone by, and my Dad's the last to arrive this afternoon.  It'll be a fun packed weekend for sure!  See you here on Monday.

Pink Grapefruit Cupcakes

Cupcakes:

2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup unsalted butter

1 1/3 cup sugar

4 large eggs

1 cup 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 tablespoons grapefruit zest

Frosting:

1 8oz package 1/3 low fat cream cheese

4 cups powdered sugar

1/8 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 teaspoons grapefruit juice

2 drops red food coloring

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cupcakes:

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.

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.

Add yogurt and vanilla; blend and low speed.

Beat in grapefruit zest. 

Scoop dough into cupcake pan, each cup around 2/3 full.

Bake until tops spring back when touched lightly in the center, around 14 minutes.

Remove from oven an cool completely.

Frosting:

Place cream cheese in a medium bowl; beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy.

Add powdered sugar, vanilla, grapefruit juice and beat until smooth.

Add food coloring and mix until light pink. 

Frost cupcakes to your liking, and enjoy!