Pistachio Cupcakes with Pink Champagne Frosting

INGREDIENTS

• For the Cupcakes:
• 2 ¼ cups cake flour
• 1 Tb. baking powder
• ¾ tsp. salt
• 1 ¼ cup half and half
• 4 egg whites
• 1 stick butter, room temperature (1/2 cup)
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. pistachio (or almond) extract
• 1 cup ground pistachios
• Green food coloring if desired
• For the Frosting:
• 2 ½ sticks butter, softened
• 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/3 cup half and half
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 ½ Tb. champagne extract
• ½ Tb. vanilla extract
• Red food coloring if desired