Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

I'm just going to be honest.  I actually hate making cupcakes.  Well I guess I don't hate the cupcake part, but I don't like frosting.  I don't like decorating.  So I let a 3 year old frost these with a little help, forgive me. 

2 sticks softened, unsalted butter

1/2 cup shortening

3 cups granulated sugar

5 eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/5 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup whole milk

1/2 c buttermilk

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup pink lemonade mix

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

In a mixing bowl begin creaming the butter and shortening 

Add in the sugar and mix until fluffy

Add in the eggs one at a time

Mix in the vanilla and lemonade mix

WARNING: 

This step you add the milk and buttermilk, I'm warning you because the milks will curdle when you pour them in. This is fine.

Add the remaining dry ingredients

Fold in the dry ingredients 

If you wish, you could add some food coloring to make these more pink.  I did.

Scoop into paper lined cupcake pan, should be 24 if filled 3/4 of the way up

Bake 18-22 minutes

Since I am not a fan of frosting I don't really give a lot of thought to it so I just made some vanilla frosting.  This recipe is not mine, it is from The Pioneer Woman, but I must say it's pretty good. 

1 cup whole milk

5 tablespoons flour

2 sticks, softened butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Whisk the milk and flour together over low heat until it's thickened, about 5 minutes

Let this mixture cool completely, like 20-25 minutes. Stir in the vanilla

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy

Once it's fluffy, pour in the cooled flour/milk/vanilla mixture until it becomes fluffy, shiny, delicious

Put into a piping bag or use an offset spatula, frost your cupcakes