Virtual Picnic–Mini Lemonade Cakes
Guess what?
It’s Earth Day, y’all!
And in honor of Earth Day, the Nature Conservancy came up with the idea of having a Picnic For the Planet, to encourage us to come together with our communities and enjoy what nature has to offer.
And food. Lot’s of food.
Isn’t that a good idea?
The only thing is, I am pretty sure that the people in my community think I’m a little weird(ish?). So…thankfully I have a fun and supportive group of blog friends who all pulled together for a virtual Earth Day picnic!
I was totally down for flying out to one of their houses until they reminded me that flying unneccessarily wasn’t very Earth friendly.
So yeah…don’t fly across the country for a picnic, okay?
Anyways, when I think warm weather and picnics, I think lemonade.
Okay, actually the first thing I think is OMG is it too hot for pants and will my thighs look fat in shorts?
But after that, I think lemonade.
So…I decided that lemonade cakes would be perfect for the picnic.
Do you concur?
**Adapted from Duncan Hines
(click here for printable recipe)
INGREDIENTS
1 box Duncan Hines White Cake mix
1 cup sour cream
3 oz cream cheese, softened
12 oz frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
3 eggs
1 cup powdered sugar for glaze
Preheat oven to 350.
Butter and flour (or spray with Baker’s spray) mini cake pans, or one large Bundt pan.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine cake mix, sour cream, cream cheese, eggs, and HALF of the lemonade concentrate. Mix on low speed for one minute. Scrape the sides of the bowl and increase speed to medium. Beat for 2 minutes.
Pour batter into prepared pan(s) and smooth the top with a spatula.
Bake a large cake for about 40-45 minutes or small cakes for about 15 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched.
Remove pans to cooling racks. Allow cakes to cool to just barely warm, remove from pans, and place warm cakes on racks. Prepare glaze by whisking 5 tablespoons of the leftover lemonade concentrate with 1 cup of powdered sugar. Drizzle over warm cakes.
**click HERE if you’re interested in purchasing mini pans like the ones I used–this recipe should make about 18 small cakes.
This cake is awesome–tart and sweet and perfect for a picnic. So bake one up and visit the Nature Conservancy’s website for information on throwing your own Picnic for the Planet.
I’d also LOVE for you to visit all the other bloggers who are participating in the virtual picnic.
Simple Bites | Pressed Sandwiches
My Baking Addiction | Mixed Berry Cheesecakes in a Jar
Bluebonnets & Brownies | Nanny’s Potato Salad
Gourmande in the Kitchen | Honey Ginger Lemonade
Dine & Dish | Sangria
Add A Pinch | Herbed Tortellini Salad
Bakers Royale | Fruit Recipe Roundup
Three Many Cooks | Black and White Caviar
Food for My Family | Homemade Potato Chips and Avocado Ranch Dip
Sugarcrafter |Apple Hand Pies
Tickled Red | Tangy Potato Salad
What’s Cooking with Kids | Kale Chips
TidyMom | Picnic Pies in a Jar
Happy Earth Day, guys! Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous weekend!
Thanks for visiting my blog! I realize you could be doing more important things with your time. Like watching the news or washing socks. I hope you stay awhile. Much more fun than socks, I promise. 
This is definitely a perfect cake for a picnic! Lovely!
Eeeee! These are SO adorable.
ummm, so I have a lemon cake that I was planning on posting too. How does this happen? I know we didn't discuss this!!
Either way yours are totally cute and totally picnic-able :)
LOOOOVE lemon cake!!
you're bringing it over to my house right!
Happy Earth Day!!
I concur!! Now bring that lovely lemon cake to the beach please, but walk don't fly. And shorts are a must ;)
Yum!! I love lemonade! Your cakes look very Nice!! Happy Earth Day!
Lemonade cake sounds absolutely perfect! Yum, Yum, Yum!
Happy Earth Day!
Fantastic job.. these look amazing! And delicious. And I think I would eat five in one sitting. ;)
Those look adorable! Now I'm craving something lemony….
These look delicious! I love lemon-flavoured cakes…and the shape and presentation of yours is particularly pretty.
I love these little cuties! Awesome mini cakes.
Cutest little lemon cakes ever.
Perfect for a picnic!
xo
Just fabulous! Makes me think of summer lemonade stands that my daughter always wants to put on and really are quite a hoot. Thanks!
Kristan, these are TOO wonderful. Hubs was drooling over my shoulder just now. Guess these are on the menu pretty soon. Not that I'm complaining!
You all have the best, cutest, most wonderful ideas for food. I'm copying. :)
Huminuh, huminuh. So perfect, like right this second. Great lead photo, too, love!
Lemon cake is a favorite of mine. This looks amazing!
I concur! I worry about pants being too hot and my legs looking fat in shorts too! *wait* you meant the lemonade cakes didn't you? Well I undoubtedly concur about that too!
The look divine!
These sound wonderful, like having a refreshing glass of lemonade for dessert! And as far as I'm concerned, it will never get hot enough for me to wear shorts. My legs are so white people would be blinded. ;-)
I just found your blog and i have to say that you are an inspiration!! I'm just started on the blogging..and one of my new years goals is to bake a new recipe each week. I now am happy to find your site so I can try out your recipes! :-) Stay awesome!
REAding your blog is like going over and visiting my favorite friend. YOu make me smile, and you make me not worry about eating dessert. I planted flowers today. My neighbors were probably staring at me considering that I had on my full black bodysuit to keep me from frying {I have vitaligo} If I would've had a periscope I could have avoided the situation altogether…but as it stands, it might have seemed rude if I'd opened the door, seen them satnding there and slamming it right back shut, LOL! Loved my little visit, as always =)
I concur, these are perfect for a picnic. Now we're going to have to find another way to all get together since flying it out. How long do you think it would take to walk? :-D
Lol. I'm not very excited about shorts, either, but, oh well.
Such sweet little cakes. Trade ya for a giant sandwich slab? =)
I am loving all the minified recipes I am seeing! These lemonade cakes look amazing. Yeah, I'm not too pumped about shorts season either…
happy earth day! these looks amazing!
I definitely concur! Super cute dessert just right for the picnic basket.
Sounds wonderful! (drool) Great picnic dessert!
XoXoXo
Joy
I made these today for Easter brunch and everyone LOVED them! They are super fast and easy and made me feel like a kitchen goddess with all the mmm's and yum's.
I need me some lemonade cake. I have dreams of this lemon cake from a friend's mom in high school. This sounds so similar I'm going to have to give it a try.
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Made this over Easter – delicious – tart but sweet. The family enjoyed it. Thanks!
I have given you the Versatile Blogger Award! I hope you accept, here is the link to the blog post. http://fromtheheartsof.blogspot.com/2011/04/versatile-blogger-award.html
These are so cute, I can't take it!! I neeeeed to make these soon.
http://atextbookcase.blogspot.com/
I totally made the lemonade cake for Easter. I did the full size cake, cause I'm not cool enough to have mini cake pans. Anywho, I also didn't think your recipe would be lemony (is that a word?) enough, so I used a lemon cake mix AND added a lemon instant pudding mix. WOWZA! Great stuff! My 12 year old sister kept some for herself after the party, only to find out later that she forgot to write her name on the container and my dad ate her cake! She totally forgot the rule at my parents house-no name on the food= fair game!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Stacy
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