Watermelon Mojito Cupcakes made from doctored cake mix and a mint frosting will brighten up any picnic or summer party. Not only do these cupcakes look like watermelon, they taste like it too thanks to some fresh watermelon puree added to the batter. Mini chocolate chips give the effect of watermelon seeds and add a hint of chocolate flavor.
The Fourth of July is nearly here. Can you believe it ? This summer is absolutely flying by. It feels like Memorial Day was just yesterday. But there are still many weeks ahead for enjoying watermelon.
My favorite way to enjoy watermelon is by sprinkling just a little salt on a slice. Sometimes the simplest things in life really are the best.
But sometimes something a little more original and special is called for.
Watermelon Mojitos Cupcakes Recipe
These Watermelon Mojito Cupcakes are a treat both kids and grown-ups will enjoy. To fully give the effect of a Mojito, the delicious summer cocktail with rum and mint, I added a little rum to the batter and rum extract to the frosting. But you could easily omit the rum from the batter or only add it to half of the batter.
Using a box of white cake mix, these cupcakes turn out super light, making them a great choice for an outdoor picnic. Because of the frosting, you will want to keep them in a cool place until serving. If left in the heat, they might turn into melted watermelon cupcakes and that wouldn’t be any fun. Wouldn’t be very pretty either.
Ingredients Needed
- Box of White Cake Mix– use a regular-size box. I use either Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker.
- Watermelon Puree– You’ll need to puree enough watermelon in a bleber to make 1 1/4 cups.
- Egg Whites
- Vegetable Oil
- Light Rum– It wouldn’t be a mojito-flavored cupcake without the rum. 🙂
- Red Food Coloring– you will need 20 to 30 drops to get them watermelon red.
- Mini Chocolate Chips– add chocolate flavor and look like watermelon seeds.
- Butter– I use salted but you can use unsalted and add a pinch of salt.
- Cream cheese– a combo of butter and cream cheese makes for an extra creamy frosting.
- Rum and Mint Extract– give the frosting a mojito flavor.
- Powdered Sugar
- Green Food Coloring– use about 20 drops.
- Milk– you will need just a touch of milk to thin the icing.
How To Store
Because of the cream cheese in the frosting, I like to store these cupcakes in the refrigerator. Unfrosted cupcakes can be stores at room temperature in an airtight container for 3 days.
More Watermelon Recipes
- Watermelon Pie
- Spicy Watermelon Salsa
- Salted Watermelon Sherbert Bars
- Watermelon-Mint Popsicles with Blueberries
Watermelon Mojito Cupcakes Recipe
Ingredients
Cupcake
- 1 box white cake mix
- 1 1/4 cups watermelon puree made from putting about 2 1/2 cups diced watermelon in blender
- 3 egg whites
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon light rum
- 20-30 drops red food coloring
- 2/3 cup mini chocolate chips
Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter,, softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese,, softened
- 1/4 teaspoon rum extract
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 20 drops green food coloring
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 18 muffin cups with cupcake liners.
- Using an electric mixer, beat cake mix, watermelon puree, egg whites, vegetable oil, and rum on low speed until mixed together. Increase to medium speed for 2 minutes. Turn back to low speed and add in red food coloring. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Divide batter between muffin cups and bake 16-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool.
- To make frosting, beat butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add extracts.
- With mixer on low, gradually add in powdered sugar. Turn mixer to high and beat until smooth.
- Turn back to low-speed and add green food coloring and milk. Turn to medium speed just long enough to get food coloring mixed in well.
- Frost cupcakes using an offset spatula or pastry bag.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally posted July 2, 2014.
These are super cute. Love the inside of the cupcake, really looks like a watermelon 😀
They do look like miniature little watermelons, so adorable. This would be a great way to celebrate a BBQ gathering and a great dish to pass as you can make it in advance. Have a super weekend. BAM
These look good!
Eeek! These are sooo cute!
What festive, adorable cupcakes Christin! I would love to have these at my 4th of July party for sure. 😀 Hope you have a lovely weekend!
This is so creative, Christin, and I love the watermelon colors! This is such a fun summer cupcake!
These are darling!! What a fun flavor, I could eat all of them!
These are so pretty and adorable Christin! This is such a great idea and love the chocolate chips in here! Perfect cupcakes for summer – pinning 🙂 Hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday weekend!
Watermelon + salt? I’ve never tried that, but I’m super intrigued now. As soon as I’m done with this post I’m trying it! Also, these cupcakes look adorable! Love how you used mini chocolate chips to mimic the seeds. That’s so original! xx
So you can bake with watermelon…who would have thought…?
ela h.