Vodka and Diet is a pretty traditional drink at a bar or club. And it is true to its namesake, a bit of vodka and a bit of diet soda, some ice cubes and a straw. Viola! Some people may add a cherry or even a lime but it is most often enjoyed without a garnish. I’ve seen men and women ordering them, I’ve even enjoyed some myself. This week my sister’s best friend is celebrating her 27th birthday. She isn’t a big fan of sweets or cakes so I was a little at a loss as to what to whip up for her. Then I thought to myself, “She goes out dancing at least once a week.. Hmmm..“, so I decided to surprise her with a vodka and diet concoction of my own making.
If you are an avid reader of my blog then you probably already know that I am a member of the IronCupcake:Earth group or ICE. This months challenge just so happens to be anything involving soda pop. Man, this is right up my alley. Funny enough, I decided on making her vodka and diet cupcakes a week or so before I noticed this months ICE challenge, talk about a fortuitous occasion! Coincidence? I think not, I prefer to look at the situation exactly as it happened, a challenge that I must complete, and sweetly.
I am competing to win the following prizes:
A creation by FRUITFLYPIE
A pair of cupcake earrings from LOTS OF SPRINKLES
A sweet surprise from SWEET CUPPIN’ CAKES
And a piece from IronCupcake:Earth’s good friend CAKESPY
ICE Corporate Prize Providers: HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS, HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, JESSIE STEELE APRONS, TASTE OF HOME books, a t-shirt from UP WITH CUPCAKES . (Iron Cupcake:Earth is sponsored in part by 1-800-Flowers)
So, I’ve got a two liter of Diet Coke and a small bottle of Tito’s Vodka. Now what am I going to do? You guessed it. Enter my newest creation, Vodka & Diet: vanilla vodka cream filled cupcakes, topped with Diet Coke buttercream frosting, garnished with marshmallow flavored hard candy ice cubes – decorated with a straw and dropped into a plastic rocks cup lined with a soda pop print.
This is where you say, “WHAT IN THE HECK IS THAT THING?“ Well, let me tell you – it is a fist sized cupcake of AWESOME and it is flippin’ delicious.
Because this is a challenge entry, I will update this post after April 29th with the recipes, until then – feel free to drool over the photos which can be found in my Flickr album. 
PS – voting will begin on Wednesday, April 29th so if you’d like to vote for my cupcakes, please visit the voting link.
