Pink for October in Cupcakes

Back at the start of October (what seems like eons ago) I thought it would be nice to do a Pink for October cupcake.  Well, it took me almost the entire month to get around to making them but here they are.

Pink Champagne Cupcakes with Sweet Champagne Buttercream Frosting

Cupcake Ingredients:

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2/3 cup butter (room temperature)
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 3/4 cup champagne (room temperature) I used a cheep pink one
• 6 egg whites (room temperature) (reserve the yolks to make sweet potato pie)
• Pink food coloring (or a few drops of red)

Frosting Ingredients:

• 3 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup butter (room temperature)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons champagne (room temperature)
• Pink food coloring (or a few drops of red)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Prepare a cupcake pan with liners. (This recipe yielded about 24 for me.)

In a mixer, cream together butter and sugar until very light and fluffy. (I turned on my kitchen aid and did the next step while they creamed).

Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together, and then blend into creamed mixture (starting and ending with flour mixture) alternately with champagne. 

Add the food coloring until you achieve the desired color, then add more.

In another large clean bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold 1/3 of the whites into batter to lighten it, then fold in remaining egg whites.

Fill the cupcake liners about 2/3 full.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

To Make The Frosting:

Beat together sugar and butter in an electric mixer until well blended, then mix for about 2 more minutes. 

Add vanilla, champagne and food coloring, beat on medium for another minute.

These are yummy and light and I think they are very pretty.  So for all you wonderfully strong breast cancer survivors, for those who support them and for those that have lost loved ones.  I hope you enjoy them and know that you are always in my thoughts and prayers.