Citrus Poke Cupcakes Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350° F. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
• In medium bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and eggs with whisk until smooth. Divide batter among cups, filling each two-thirds full. Bake and cool as directed on box for 24 cupcakes.
• Use serrated knife to level top of each cooled cupcake to make flat-topped cupcakes. Use wooden skewer (or deep fork) to poke deep holes in cupcakes.
• Use offset spatula (or butter knife) to spread lemon curd over each cupcake. Wait a minute or so to allow lemon curd to seep into each cupcake; repeat.
• Mix sugar, cream of tartar and water in heavy-bottomed 2-quart saucepan fitted with candy thermometer. Stir sugar to dissolve; cook mixture until it becomes syrupy and reaches 240° F.
• Meanwhile, beat egg whites in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed. When syrup in saucepan reaches 240°F, immediately pour syrup into bowl of egg whites while beating on medium speed.
• After syrup is all added, increase mixer speed to medium-high; continue beating until icing becomes very thick, at least 10 minutes. The end result will be a thick, shiny meringue that holds its peak.
• Transfer meringue to decorating bag fitted with tip; pipe generous dollop of icing on each cupcake. Use chef's torch to gently toast icing. Enjoy immediately!

Steps:

• Prepare cake batter and bake as directed on package for 24 cupcakes; cool 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, measure 1/4 cup of the dry gelatin into small bowl. Stir in 1/2 cup of the boiling water 2 minutes until completely dissolved. Add cold water. Cut small "X" in center of each cupcake with sharp knife. Carefully pour gelatin evenly over cupcakes. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Meanwhile, stir remaining 1/4 cup boiling water into remaining dry gelatin in small bowl 2 minutes until completely dissolved. Cool.
• Beat butter in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Gradually add sugar alternately with the gelatin, beating until well blended after each addition. (Add a small amount of hot water if the frosting is too stiff.) Spread frosting onto cupcakes. Store in refrigerator.

Steps:

• PREPARE batter according to package directtions with the eggs, water and oil; bake as directed for cupcakes. (You can also use a white cake mix for this recipe.).
• Cool in pans 10 minutes. Pierce tops with fork.
• STIR boiling water into dry gelatin mix until dissolved; spoon over cupcakes.
• Refrigerate 30 minutes. Remove from pans.
• TINT whipped topping with food coloring; spread over cupcakes. Decorate as desired.
• Store in refrigerator.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and eggs until smooth. Spoon into muffin cups, filling cups half full.
• Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until tops of cupcakes spring back when gently touched. Cool in pans 3 minutes. Remove from pans; use end of wooden spoon to poke 3 holes into each hot cupcake.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate fudge topping uncovered on High 20 to 30 seconds or until thin and pourable. Spoon over warm cupcakes, reserving about 1/4 cup. Cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• In medium bowl, beat pudding mix and milk with whisk about 4 minutes or until soft set. Fold in whipped topping with spatula.
• Stir all but 1 1/2 cups crushed cookies into pudding mixture.
• Spoon pudding mixture on tops of cupcakes. Top with remaining crushed cookies and reserved chocolate fudge topping. Refrigerate until ready to serve.