Archive for June, 2010

Lemon Cupcakes

June 27th, 2010

These lemon cupcakes were a nice refreshing change to the usual cupcake flavors I bake. The cake was soft and moist and the sweet tangy frosting was so addicting. I must admit I was a little sad when the last cupcake was gone. I could not get enough of these cupcakes! Next time, I’m definitely making the whole recipe instead of halving it.

Lemon Cupcake

Lemon Cupcakes
(adapted from allrecipes.com)
makes about 24 cupcakes

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • zest of 2 medium lemons
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups sour cream

Frosting:

  • 4 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 4 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • zest of 1 medium lemon
  • 2 tablespoons milk
Directions:
  1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add lemon zest and vanilla; mix well.
  2. Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream (batter will be thick).
  3. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups with 1/4 cup of batter. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
  4. For frosting, cream butter and sugar in a small mixing bowl. Add lemon juice, vanilla, lemon zest and milk; beat until smooth. Frost cupcakes.

Hello Again

June 3rd, 2010

Wow…1.5 months no blog! I must apologize for the lack of activity on my blog, unfortunately life gets in the way sometimes (the good and the bad). Anyway, the good news is I am back and do not expect anymore interruptions in the near future.

In the last month, I discovered (actually a friend told me) about a hole in the wall baking supply store that has become my new favorite store. I love how the store front can look so deceivingly small, but once you enter its like a whole other world. They have pretty much everything imaginable there, a baker’s dream. Quite the selection of cupcake liners, all kinds colors and patterns and an impressive array of bakery boxes to hold cakes and cupcakes. I could spend hours in there. My friend’s birthday gave me the chance to bust out my window cupcake box that I just bought from there and I absolutely love it! It’s got the Sprinkles vibe with the brown cardboard box look, but the best part is the window and the holders inside.I made dark chocolate cupcakes with pink vanilla bean frosting and H-A-P-P-Y B-I-R-T-H-D-A-Y candles on top. I guess the box made it look so legit that my friends thought I bought cupcakes from a real bakery haha. So, thank you to my new baking supply store for helping my cupcakes step it up a notch in the presentation department!

Dark chocolate cupcakes with brown liners like Sprinkles!

Pink vanilla bean frosting

Cupcakes placed in their holders

Cupcakes placed in the holders

Check out the window!

Love these candles!