Lime Cupcakes With Cactus Pear Frosting

I was at my grocery store and I came across prickly cactus pear fruit. Hmmmm....I grabbed a few and stuck them in my cart. Came home and looked up what they were. Read some where they taste between bubblegum and watermelon. To me it taste like cactus juice! A beautiful red color inside. Ok...what can I make now? Lime cupcakes with cactus frosting.....a good combination!
Cactus pear is a excellent source of vitamin C,  magnesium, and fiber!

Lime Cupcakes With Pear Cactus Frosting

2-3 fresh limes, first washed, then grated, and juiced.

Dry ingredients
1 c. whole wheat pastry flour
1 c. unbleached white flour
1/2 c. turbinado sugar or brown sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 TBSP. grated lime skin (from above)
1/4 tsp. extra fine sea salt

Wet ingredients
1/2 c.+ 1 TBSP applesauce
1/4 c. soy milk or any non-dairy
1/4 c. lime juice (from above)
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Pear Cactus Frosting
1 c. powdered sugar
1 medium or large cactus pear
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
good pinch of extra fine sea salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray with non-stick cooking spray or use non-stick cupcake liners in a cupcake pan.

-In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients.
-In a smaller bowl, combine all the wet ingredients.
-Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry. Gently fold together just until combined, not to over mix.
-Spoon batter into prepared cupcake pan. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
-Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes in pan and then remove cupcakes from pan and completely cool on wire rack.

In the meantime make the Cactus Pear Frosting

-Cut one cactus pear in half and scoop out the fruit into a fine mesh sieve with a bowl underneath.
-Gently press through the mesh sieve with the back of a spoon or use a spatula until you get 1 TBSP. of juice in the bowl. This may take a few minutes. Stir and gently press the fruit. Dispose the seeds and pulp.
-In a medium bowl, combine the 1 TBSP. of the cactus pear juice, powdered sugar, vanilla and salt. Stir until smooth and have a frosting consistency.
-Spread the cooled cupcakes with frosting and top with a little left over lime zest if desired!

Don't eat too many like we did!  May taste great with a Mojito too!