LEMON BLOSSOM CUPCAKES

Lemon Blossom Cupcakes image

Provided by Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne

Yield Makes 12 cupcakes

Number Of Ingredients 17

For the Cupcakes:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 1/4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups whole milk, at room temperature
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup freshly grated lemon zest (2 to 3 lemons)
For the Lemon-Cream Cheese Frosting:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup freshly grated lemon zest (2 to 3 lemons)

Steps:

For the Cupcakes:
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a standard cupcake pan with twelve paper baking cups, or grease the pan with butter if not using baking cups.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt on a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper and set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a bowl with a handheld electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar for 3 to 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing slowly after each addition.
Add the vanilla to the milk in a large liquid measuring cup.
Add one third of the dry ingredients followed by one third of the milk, and mix thoroughly. Repeat. Stop to scrape down the bowl as needed. Add the last third of dry ingredients followed by the last third of milk. Mix slowly until just incorporated. Add lemon juice and zest, and mix thoroughly at low speed.
Scoop the batter into the cupcake pan using a standard-size ice-cream scoop until the cups are two-thirds full, and bake for 16 to 18 minutes (start checking at 15 minutes), or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the Frosting:
Combine the ingredients in a mixer and whip together at high speed until light and airy, approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Frost the cupcakes with a swirl, and top with a lemon wedge or piece of lemon zest!