Tuesday 2 March 2010

Lemony cupcakes




It's been such a loooong winter here, which seems to have disappeared like a flick of a switch when we moved from February to March. I made these last week when I was longing for a little sunshine again and they did the trick. I love citrusy flavours for sunny days but I'll have to remember to enjoy citrusy things to encourage the sun to come back too now!

I've based this on a recipe here from Deeba at Passionate about Baking who got it from CoffeeGrounded who got it from the Martha Stewart website. So thanks Martha!

Lemony cupcakes

Makes about 12-18 cupcakes or 6-9 muffins

Ingredients

Cupcakes
100g unsalted butter (room temp)
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk (room temp)
1 teaspoon vanilla (I used the insides of a vanilla bean)
Zest of one lemon, finely grated, plus juice
1 cup granulated sugar

Icing
1 cup icing sugar
a drop of yellow food colouring
2-3 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp water

Recipe
1. Preheat your oven to 170˚C and prepare your bun/muffin cases on your baking tray.
2. In one bowl mix together the four, baking powder and salt. In another bowl whisk together the butermilk, vanilla, lemon juice and zest.
3. Beat the butter until smooth, then beat in the sugar.
4. Beat in the eggs one at a time
5. Mix in a third of the flour mix, then half the buttermilk mix, another third of the flour, the rest of the buttermilk and the last of the flour mix.
6. Divide the batter amongst the bun/muffin cases and bake for 20-25 minutes.
7. Leave to cool on a rack before frosting.



8. Mix together the icing sugar and food colouring , then gradually beat in a little lemon juice at a time until all the sugar is mixed in and the mixture is thick (not too runny). Use to decorate your cupcakes.

8 comments:

  1. Hi Ruth, The cupcakes look delicious. You iced them with my most favorite icing. I love how that icing looks like new snow in winter. We in Wisconsin are also very tired of winter's cold. In protest I've been making garden salads. But I know my children would far prefer the cupcakes you protest winter with. They love lemon. Thanks for the recipe.

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  2. Hi Cristie - it's funny how my mind went to cake for summery food and not salad! lol

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  3. We are on the same wavelength. We are both in a lemony sort of mood. I made lemon cake with lemon frosting and sprinkled with coconut. It was such a good combination, that I think I will sprinkle some on top when I try these yummy looking cupcakes.

    Hope the lovely weather continues *touch wood*!

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  4. Hello, Ruth!

    Thanks for visiting my blog and referencing me alongside of Deeba. It was such a joy to see that you had complimented me. Many thanks, and hugs!

    I can't wait for Spring to arrive: green grass, warmer temps, and garden planting, but for now we must console ourselves within the confines of our toasty kitchens. Thankfully comfort foods abound....and lemon flavors are right up there at the top...especially if coffee is offered alonside. ;)

    Again, thank you for your visit. I'm glad we found each other.

    Margie
    aka....CoffeeGrounded

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  5. Hey Jac - I noticed your lemon cake, but haven't commented yet, there's something in the air with all this lemon love.

    Hi Margie, thanks for the recipe. It's a truly delicious one.

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  6. These look delicious Ruth - I love Lemon cakes.

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  7. Hi Ruth

    These Lemon cupcakes are so cute and would be perfect for Easter. I think we are all desperate for Spring to finally arrive after what seems like such a long winter.

    Maria
    x

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