Jelly Donut Cupcakes are so healthy! Or not...

Dad is out to sea again, Jordan is back at college, and Mom and the boys went to a Scouts meeting this evening, so I finally had a chance to make Jelly Donut Cupcakes!

Now, I feel it may be necessary to intervene here and mention that we are not all turning into round little balls of blubber from all of the cupcake-eating. One of my favorite things about trying these different recipes is that there's always plenty to share! So, the boys and I have enjoyed delivering cupcakes to several of our neighbors. Of course, we always taste them first, just to make sure they're okay ;-)

Anyway, back to Jelly Donut Cupcakes. Here is the finished product!

And the recipe:

1 cup sweet butter (2 sticks) *I just use normal, unsalted butter

1 cup superfine sugar

2 cups self-rising flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. vanilla extract

4 eggs

1/2 cup raspberry jelly or jam *We could only find preserves, and that worked out fine

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line or grease 18 muffin cups. Combine all ingredients except raspberry filling in electric mixer. Mix for 2-3 minutes. Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden-brown. Remove from oven and cool for five minutes. Take the muffins out of cups and cool on wire racks.

Meanwhile, you have a couple of options.

Option #1: Make your own frosting. The recipe included this frosting recipe-

1 cup cream cheese

1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted

1 tbsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Slowly beat the cream cheese and confectioners' sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy and soft. Add the lemon juice and vanilla, and beat briskly until well-combined.

Option #2: This is the path I took. Buy creamy vanilla frosting and read a book while the cupcakes cool.

When cool, slice the top off each cupcake, hollow out a small hole with a teaspoon and fill with the jelly. Replace the top. Spread the frosting onto cupcakes.

For a little extra color, I put a dab of raspberry filling on top of each cupcake. I also think it would have been really fun to put a nice, fresh raspberry on top of each one; whatever you want to try.

Enjoy these extra-sweet, extra-yummy donut cupcakes!

~Hannah Grace