Pomegranate & Papaya Cupcakes

Pomegranate. Papaya. Both weird fruits that are kind of fun to say. So I decided to throw them together in a cupcake. And it was delicious!

For the cake:
1 box white cake mix
ingredients listed on box, sub milk for water
2 tsp pomegranate flavor
1/4 cup diced dried papaya
Mix it all up, pour in cupcake liners & bake for about that long.

For the frosting: *NOTE* this is a fairly small batch of frosting. I had enough to do about 18 cupcakes, and I didn't put a ton of frosting on them.
1/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter
juice from removing pomegranate seeds (mostly for color)
I also added 1 tsp pomegranate flavor
powdered sugar to reach desired consistency
Mix all this together, frost, and top with pomegranate seeds.

To get your pomegranate seeds (and juice) slice your pomegranate crossways (not through the stem) and whack the back of each half with a spoon. Your seeds will fall into the bowl along with the juice. I suggest straining the juice through a paper towel or something because there will be some little pieces you don't want.

You should try these. They are pretty amazing if I do say so myself.

-Happy Baking!