It’s August! Can you believe that?! Now’s the time to polish off those summer bucket lists before school is back in session. (If that affects your household anyway.) That’s why this weekend’s Sunday Supper theme of Pool Party is a perfect fit! I connect even more with the theme because my birthday is at the end of this month and I would always have a pool party!

If you’re throwing a poolside bash this month be sure to scroll past my recipe for a wonderful list of menu possibilities. A big thank you to the Sunday Supper Movement for hosting this event.

Fellow food bloggers, do you lie awake at night thinking about your food styling and photo props? I don’t often because I know I’m not quite at that level, but with this fun summer theme I had visions dancing in my head of how I would plate my pool party offering. I used my Kroger gift card and strolled down their seasonal aisle, where school supplies pushed barbecue dishes and water toys to half off prices. I picked up a yellow plate and a beach ball. I knew I’d use some of my son’s water table toys for extra water fun props. But how do I put all of these fun things in the background? I’d have to put out a quilt on the grass. Luckily the sun stayed behind clouds and the threat of rain held off for the day so I didn’t have any funky shadows. I absolutely loved the way my photos turned out – from the screen on my camera, that is. Once I sat down to edit I was slightly disappointed. The bright yellow ducks and orange pail were too hard to tone down without drowning out my food. Luckily I took a close up!

Salty snacks tempted me as whenever I’m at the beach or pool I want salt! Not sure if I’m the only one there. A Chex Mix with Goldfish would be cute to serve at a pool party. But, when I think pool party I think watermelon. Unfortunately, that is a fruit that is off limits to me now. Next up, berries. I hit Pinterest looking for a fun idea and was very close to making a fruit beach ball cookie cake. But that giant sugar cookie got me thinking dessert. Cupcakes would be easy to eat by the pool. The answer: Pink Lemonade Cupcakes!

These cupcakes are everything lemonade should be and thanks to the frosting they’re tartingly sweet.

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

Ingredients for cake:

• 2 1/4 C flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/3 C room temperature butter (5 tbsp + 1 tsp)
• 1 1/3 C sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 C thawed frozen pink lemonade concentrate
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste (I used Nielsen-Massey)
• 3/4 C sour cream
• 1/4 C strawberry preserves/jam/spreadable fruit

Ingredients for frosting:

• 1/3 C softened butter (5 tbsp + 1 tsp)
• 4 C powdered sugar
• 1/3 C thawed frozen lemonade concentrate (or more as needed)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• red food coloring (optional)

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 21 cupcakes with liners.
2. In a bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add in eggs one at a time. Add in the lemonade concentrate, vanilla, sour cream, and strawberry preserves. Mix until combined. Add in the dry ingredients in 2-3 batches until fully incorporated.
4. Spoon batter into prepared cupcake tin. Bake 18-21 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out cleanly. (Note: If one cupcake tin is on the bottom rack, I suggest rotating the cupcake tins halfway to prevent the bottoms of the bottom batch from burning.)
5. Allow cupcakes to cool 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack. Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
6. Make the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment cream the butter with 1 cup of the powdered sugar. Add in the lemonade concentrate and vanilla and whisk until combined. Add the remaining powdered sugar. Add additional lemonade concentrate as needed. If using, add a couple drops of food coloring to achieve a pink frosting. Frost cooled cupcakes.

*This recipe is adapted from Alice at http://hipfoodiemom.com/2014/07/11/strawberry-lemonade-cake-for-a-guest-post/*

Refreshing Beverages and Cocktails:

• Beermosas by eating in instead
• Cantaloupe Margaritas by Palatable Pastime
• Ginger Peach Sangria with Plums by Whole Food | Real Families
• Lime and Ginger Cordial by Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
• Lime in the Coconut Caipirinha by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
• Limeade Splash by Our Good Life
• Mojito Slush by Life Tastes Good
• Pear and Cranberry Orange Cocktail by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Spiked Blackberry Lemonade by Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch

Appealing Appetizers and Snacks:

• Chip and Dip Sunflowers by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Coconut Key Lime Cheesecake Dip by The Crumby Cupcake
• Eggplant, Spinach and White Bean Dip with Homemade Cheddar Crackers by Caroline’s Cooking
• Grilled Spicy Shrimp with Pineapple Aioli by A Gouda Life
• Low-Carb Turkey Club Bites by Momma’s Meals
• Roasted Jalapeno Hummus by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
• Spicy Cheesy Corn Dip by Brunch with Joy
• Tropical Fruit with Moscato Glaze Quesadilla by Seduction in the Kitchen
• Zesty Tex-Mex Shrimp Cocktail by The Weekend Gourmet

Super Sides and Salads:

• BLT Pasta Salad by A Day in the Life on a Farm
• Mexican Three Bean Salad by Tasting Page
• Olive Tomato Salad by Magnolia Days
• Superfood Crunch Salad by Food Done Light

Tempting Desserts and Sweets:

• 5 Fantastic Fruit Pops by Sunday Supper Movement
• Butter Pecan M&M’s Magic Bars by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• Pink Lemonade Cupcakes by Sew You Think You Can Cook
• Oatmeal Toffee Cookies by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Sour Cherry Crumb Cake by Pies and Plots
• Swim Ring Cakes by The Freshman Cook

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