I love watermelon: fresh, as a hard candy, or in Kool Aid form. If you agree, you must try these watermelon cupcakes. Using watermelon flavored Kool Aid (and no fresh watermelon), these are fantastic! Book #16 of this series is a success too. Mel, Angie, and Tate are great business partners and not bad at sleuthing out murderers too.
This is book #16 in the Cupcake Bakery series. And it just might be the last book of the series. Best friend Melanie and Angie are expanding their cupcake bakery franchise and this time it is two professional football players who want in. Their notoriety could be either the key to the success of their franchise, or it could draw the wrong people to their bakery. After a prominent person in their football world is found dead, it looks like their success is no longer for certain.
Fondant Fumble by Jenn McKinlay
Watermelon Cupcakes
from a cozy mystery:
Fondant Fumble
by Jenn McKinlay
Book Outline and Tone:
When 2 professional football players, Keogh and Tyler, want to invest in a cupcake bakery to help support them when they retire, the plan seems foolproof. They are popular players and fans want to see the players in a bakery. But when another prominent person in the football community is found dead in their bakery, it is up to Mel to solve this murder or watch this franchise go under. To make this scenario even crazier, it appears the victim was killed by scorpion stings. When Mel finds the body a bed of scorpions emerge from inside the victims clothes. Angie is busy with her baby for most of this novel, so the burden falls primarily to Melanie. But just in time, one of the player’s moms shows up. Mama June is a southern mom who adamantly defends her son and is not afraid to schmooze anyone with her cookies. Mama June adds an interesting comedy relief to this novel.
Point of View:
Third person with the reader knowing Mel’s thoughts.
The Author: Jenn McKinlay
Jenn McKinlay is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her website not only lists all of her books but has a pretty fascinating bio page. She is a skateboarder, has been in a glider plane, and has lived both on the east coast and in the west. I would tell you more, but I would rather encourage you to check out her website. Jenn McKinlay has an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, and her website. Give her a shout out on social media and let her know what you think of her books and desserts.
What is not to like?:
I absolutely love this series and I am sad that it appears this is the last book in the series. It has been wonderful to see Tate and Angie’s relationship grow. Melanie and Joe’s relationship has grown and it appears could be growing even more, but alas, the series is over.
The verdict:
I strongly recommend that you try cupcakes from this series. Each one is a winner. And if you enjoy book with a good mystery and even better friends, this cozy mystery series is my top pick.
Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you).
Watermelon Cupcakes
Assemble the Ingredients
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Put paper liners or silicone baking cups (green would be ideal to add to the watermelon look) in cupcake tin.
Silicone Baking Cups, Walfos Jumbo Cupcake Liners Large 3.5 inch Resusable Muffin Cups Non-stick Muffin Liners Cupcake Baking Cup, Food Grade and BPA Free, 12Packs
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
Alternately add the dry ingredients and the milk, mixing until smooth.
Fill cupcake liners until two-thirds full. Bake for 17 to 21 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Makes 12.
Watermelon Frosting
Assemble the Ingredients
OXO Good Grips 3- Piece Plastic Mixing Bowl Set LInk
In a large bowl, cream butter.
Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed and adding milk as needed.
Mix watermelon Kool-Aid powder and blend until thoroughly incorporated.
The packet is bitter, add plenty of powdered sugar to make the frosting fluffy and sweet. I wish I had added a bit more sugar.
This is the color without food dye.
Add red food coloring, one drop at a time, until desired color is achieved. Scrape sides of bowl often. Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.
Pipe onto cooled cupcakes in big swirls using a pastry bag. Garnish with mini chocolate chips or as I did with some Sour Patch Watermelon Gummies
Watermelon Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcake Batter
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 3 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup milk
Watermelon Buttercream Frosting
- ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, softened
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
- 2 Tbsp milk
- 1 packet watermelon Kool-Aid powder mix
- Red food coloring
- Mini chocolate chips OR watermelon gummies
Instructions
Cupcake Batter
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
- Alternately add the dry ingredients and the milk, mixing until smooth.
- Fill cupcake liners until two-thirds full.
- Bake for 17 to 21 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Watermelon Buttercream Frosing
- In a large bowl, cream butter.
- Gradually add confectioners' sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed and adding milk as needed.
- Mix watermelon Kool-Aid powder and blend until thoroughly incorporated
- Add red food coloring, one drop at a time, until desired color is achieved. Scrape sides of bowl often.
- Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes in big swirls using a pastry bag.
- Garnish with mini chocolate chips OR watermelon gummies
What would I do differently next time?
When I initially tasted the frosting, it still seemed bitter. Taste the frosting before you spread it on the cupcakes. Adding a bit more sugar and whipping until fluffy will make the watermelon frosting perfect.
The broken candy pieces that surround the cupcakes are Fuzzy Candy that can be made with any Kool Aid flavor packet. Watermelon is one of my favorite flavors! You can find the recipe here:
This book inspired Grape Fizz Candy
I even added the candy to these Watermelon Cookies!
