Lemon Lime Cupcakes with Mountain Dew

These cupcakes are so light and perfect--not too tart, not too sweet.  Take a shortcut and start with a cake mix.  You'll get rave reviews,  if you have any left over to share!

 Ingredients:

CAKE
1 (2 layer size) box lemon cake mix
1 (3.4 ounce) box instant lemon pudding mix
3 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream

1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup Mountain Dew soda
1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon lime juice
 

FROSTING

3/4 cup butter, softened

7 ounces (about 1 1/2 cups) marshmallow crème

5 cups confectioner’s sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons lime juice
2 Tablespoons Mountain Dew soda

3 -5 drops yellow food color
 

Directions:

CAKE

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix cake mix, pudding and eggs well.
Add sour cream and oil to the batter and beat for 1 minute.
Slowly pour in mountain dew soda, lemon juice, and lime juice. Beat for 2 minutes.
Place cupcake liners in 24 cups of a cupcake pan. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake at 350 degrees F for 13 to 17 minutes (or until toothpick inserted comes out clean).
Cool completely on wire rack before frosting.

FROSTING
Beat butter on medium speed until smooth, light, and fluffy. Add marshmallow crème and beat until light and fluffy.  Slowly add confectioners’ sugar one cup at a time, beating well after each.  Mix in salt.  Add lemon juice, lime juice, and mountain dew.  Mix well.  Add food coloring and beat until very light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes.

Smooth frosting on to cupcakes with a knife or spatula, or pipe frosting on cupcakes as desired.