Watermelon Kool-Aid Cupcakes and Watermelon Cucumber Fruit Drink Spritzers

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A few things come to mind when I think about summer - the beach, cookouts and watermelon. Through the hot summer months, I probably consume a whole watermelon a week (no exaggeration). Not only is a great way to stay hydrated, I am pretty addicted to the flavor. Lucky for me, there are plenty of watermelon fruit drinks on the market if I can't get my paws on a slice of melon. 

We had plans for a 4th of July cookout this past weekend which got rained out thanks to the storm who became Hurricane Arthur. We planned on spending Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the beach - the outdoor plans were ruined but we still enjoyed a lot of watermelon flavored treats.

I made Watermelon Cucumber Spritzers with Watermelon Ice Cubes - we used the newly released 96oz ready to drink Kool-Aid bottle which I found super convenient, especially if you have a house full of teenagers like my future in-laws did this weekend. I cannot tell you how many times in the past we would be in the kitchen making new batches of Kool-Aid. The kids drank their Watermelon Kool-Aid right out of the bottle while the a drank soda water and Kool-Aid ice cubes for flavor.

Cucumber Watermelon Spritzers

Kool-Aid Watermelon fruit drink

Muddled Cucumber

Soda (or Seltzer) Water

Kool-Aid Watermelon Ice Cubes

Muddle 1/8 cucumber in a glass, add soda water and pour over Kool-Aid Watermelon Ice Cubes.  

Along with this delicious and refreshing beverage, I also made Watermelon Cupcakes using Kool-Aid Watermelon powder. They were incredibly easy to make and a hit with both kids and adults. I made white cake from scratch and added the watermelon powder at the end. You can also make this recipe using box cake - adding the Kool-Aid packet at the end.

Kool-Aid Watermelon Cupcakes

1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter (room temperature)
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 package Kool-Aid Watermelon powder
6 drops green food coloring
1 tub (10.6 oz.) COOL WHIP Vanilla Whipped Frosting, thawed
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Directions 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with paper liners. In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in the milk until batter is smooth, then fold in Kool-Aid mix. Spoon batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely.

Mix together Cool Whip frosting (best invention EVER) and green food coloring. Top the frosting mixture on top of the cooled cupcakes and sprinkle chocolate chips on top.

The 96oz ready to drink bottle of Kool-Aid at Super Walmart in Tampa

While our holiday weekend was dampened by rain, we still had a great time. It's hard to believe the summer is halfway over. My next few weeks are filled of fun and activities with my family and friends. This upcoming weekend is my Sister-in-Laws 30th birthday party! I cannot believe my baby sis (in-law) is going to be 30. Where did time go?

With my Sister-in-Law Lauren and Mom at Lauren's wedding (the night Gabe and I reconnected!)

Two weeks from Thursday, we will be heading out for my bacherlorette cruise! We are doing a quick 3 night Bahamas cruise and I cannot wait! Gabe's bachelor party is the weekend prior. The reality of how quickly the wedding is approaching hit him when he realized our parties are a few weeks away.

The Bacherlorette Party Cruise Girls :)

The weekend after I go on the cruise, we will be heading up to Maine for our family reunion. We get together once every three years and have an amazing time relaxing on the lake with family. Until a few weeks ago, I did not think I was able to make it.

2011 Family Reunion

That my friends is the rest of July for me. Yeesh - talk about a busy month. What are your plans for the rest of this summer?

Jim Dillard, pro fisherman, could be coming to your local Walmart to help promote the new 96oz bottles! There will be product giveaways, t-shirts, games, and more fun activities! Friday August 8th 5-7pm: 360 Harbison Blvd Columbia, SC WM Supercenter Saturday August 9th 3-5pm: 1326 Bush River Rd Columbia, SC WM Supercenter Saturday August 9th 6-8pm: 2401 Augusta Rd West Columbia, SC WM Supercenter