Rocket Pop Cupcakes

Directions

Cupcakes:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line 2 – 12 cup muffins tins with paper liners; set aside.
2. Combine cake flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in large bowl.
3. Add 3/4 C. milk and all the shortening. Beat with electric mixer at medium speed 2 minutes.
4. Add eggs, remaining 1/2 C. milk and vanilla. Beat 2 minutes. Pour batter into prepared pans.
5. Bake 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
6. Cool in pans on wire rack 15 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pans to wire rack. Cool completely.

Frosting:

1. Beat shortening, almond extract, salt and lime zest in large bowl with mixer on high speed until smooth.
2. Add powdered sugar. Beat on low speed, gradually adding 1/2 cup of milk, until blended.
3. Add the lime juice and beat with stand mixer on medium speed 3 minutes or with hand mixer on high speed 5 minutes.
4. If needed, add the remaining ¼ cup of milk and mix until well blended.
5. Divide the frosting into three bowls, putting a little more in the bowl that will be colored blue.
6. Add blue food coloring to the bowl with the most frosting and stir until well blended and the desired color is achieved.
7. Add red food coloring to the second bowl and stir until well blended and the desired color is achieved (hint: red will darken over time so, if you can, make the frosting in advance).
8. Leave the third bowl undyed.
9. Pipe frosting on the cooled cupcakes with blue on the bottom, followed by white and topped with red.
10. Insert a popsicle stick into the center of each cupcake.