Mojito is a Spanish drink that consists of crushed fresh lime leaves, sugar, rum, soda water and shaved ice. It is refreshing and smooth. I sometimes like the Mojito made without rum and it tastes like a minty limeade. You can make it low calorie by adding sweetener instead of sugar. I wanted to share this fun recipe for Mojito cupcakes. They are perfect for summer potlucks and snacks.

Mojito Cupcake Batter

Makes 12 cupcakes.
Ingredients needed:

• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup chopped fresh mint
• Zest and juice of one lime
• 2 Tablespoons dark rum (optional)
• 1 ¼ cup flour
• 1/3 cup canola oil or vegetable oil
• ¾ cup white sugar
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Mint leaves for the garnish
• Cupcake pan and paper cupcake liners

Step 1:

Combine milk and chopped mint leaves in a small pot and heat on medium heat to infuse the mint flavor into the milk, DO NOT BOIL. Cook about 5 minutes. Let cool 5-10 minutes.

Fresh mint plant from my garden

Chopped mint

Mint in milk

Strain out the mint leaves and discard the cooked leaves. You can smash the leaves to get more flavor out of them in the milk.

Strain the mint leaves out of the milk

Step 2:

Heat the oven to 350 degrees and line the cupcake pan with the cupcake papers.

Step 3:

Measure out the sugar in a separate bowl or on a cutting board. Grate the lime zest over the sugar. Grate the whole outside of the lime and mix the green zest pieces in the sugar to infuse the flavors.

Lime zest

Lime zest in sugar

Step 4:

In a medium bowl pour the milk and add the juice of the lime. I add more lime and used the Real Lime squeeze bottle. Whisk the lime and the milk together. It will curdle and that is fine.

Squeeze lime into milk

Step 5:

Add the sugar with the lime zest to the milk mixture. Add the oil, dark rum, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and whisk all ingredients until the large lumps are gone. 2-3 minutes.

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Mojito cupcake batter

Step 6:

Pour the cupcake batter into the paper cups and fill 2/3 full. Bake approx. 22 minutes in the center of a preheated oven at 350 degrees.

Fill cups 2/3 full with batter

Step 7:

Remove the cupcakes and let them cool for 15-20 minute before frosting them.

Cupcakes cooling in pan

Plate of Mojito cupcakes above

Lime Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients needed:

• ½ cup butter or margarine
• 8 ounces room temperature plain cream cheese
• 2 teaspoons dark rum (optional)
• 1 Tablespoon lime juice, fresh or from the plastic squeeze green lime
• 1 ½ to 3 cups powdered sugar
• Several drops green food color

You can purchase the can of green readymade frosting that comes with decorator tips for easy frosting. Each can frosts 12 cupcakes.

Step 1:

Cream together in a bowl the sugar, butter and salt.

Step 2:

Add chunks of the cream cheese to the sugar and butter mixture. Mix one chunk at a time until it is blended before adding another chunk. Add rum and lime juice. If too runny add more powdered sugar. Add green food color, about 2 to 3 drops.

Step 3:

Use a frosting piping bag or a ziploc bag with the frosting pushed to the bottom corner. Snip the corner and add a frosting tip or squeeze out the frosting without the tip. Cut the corner of the bag but only a small corner section.

For directions on making a frosting bag click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NItSjaMMHJw

If you don’t have time to make home made cupcakes you can use a white cake mix and add the lime and rum in place of any liquids called for on the directions of the cake mix.

Mojito drink and Mojito cupcakes on plate above

The neighbors loved these moist lime, minty cupcakes. My neighbors look forward to my monthly recipes as they get to taste the goodies. Please remember to spread the Aloha Spirit and share with those you care about.

If you like this recipe please rate me with 5 Stars and leave a comment. I answer all my emails so if you have any questions about this or other recipes I will return your answer within 24 hours.