The Perfect Summer Cupcake

What better way to celebrate summer than having a BBQ with your closest friends?! I'm heading to a luau themed BBQ and have signed up to bring dessert. These cupcakes are perfect for the theme, but can also be brought to any summer party! They are super easy to make and are always a crowd favorite! Check out the tutorial below to see how I made these adorable treats!

Here is what you will need to make these cupcakes:

- Cake mix (I chose Funfetti)

- Pink frosting with crystal sugar sprinkles

 - Fun cupcake liners (I used pink polkadots to match the frosting!) 

- Striped paper straws

- 1-2 limes

- Decorator bottle with open star tip from The Pampered Chef

- Not pictured: Paper drink umbrellas

First bake the cupcakes as directed on the box, using the fun cupcake liners.

While cupcakes bake and cool, prepare your decorations.

Take a couple paper straws at a time and cut into three smaller pieces.

Repeat until you have 24 small straws.

Using a butter knife, fill the decorator bottle with the pink frosting and apply the open star tip.

Squeeze the bottle while circling around the cupcake, 

starting on the outside and working towards the center.

Use the sprinkles included with the frosting, and apply a small amount to each cupcake.

Next, cut a lime in half and proceed to cut a few thin slices of the lime.

Cut each slice in half and in half again, creating four small quadrants of the lime.

Repeat until you have 24 small wedges. Layout the wedges between two paper towels and gently pat to absorb the lime juice.

Place a lime wedge on each cupcake, angled off to the side. 

Next, take one of your small straws and insert into the cupcake at an angle on the opposite side of the lime.

Lastly, take a paper drink umbrella and insert into cupcake at an angle, slightly behind the lime.

TA-DAA!!  

You now have the perfect summer cupcake! Enjoy!!