cupcakes

A post with lemon

Friday, March 15, 2013

Now I see that Mary Frances has yet to post about what we made, SOO I'm going to jump in and be the first to do it!  It'll be fun to see how ours differ:)
First, a question.  Who likes lemon?  I see a lot of nodding, smiling, and frantic hand waving.  It's normally a favorite, and our house is no exception!  There are bazillions of different combos, as my dad has proved.  He's on a breakfast cooking craze, and has been making us Saturday morning breakfasts for the past month.
One word: AWESOME!  It's so fun to wake up knowing that it won't be a cereal and bagel day. Oh NO.  When my dad cooks, he cooks gourmet.  So far he's made lemon poppy seed muffins, lemon ricotta pancakes (with homemade ricotta cheese!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and tomorrow *happy squeal* he's making lemon blueberry ricotta scones.  So if you're ever in the mood for an amazing home-cooked breakfast, come to the Salts' house at 9:00.  Please bring some coffee to get on the chef's good side, and he might save you a pancake:)

Well, after all these lemon recipes, Mary Frances and I still decided to do lemon cupcakes.  I mean who can go wrong there?  






They were just super moist (because of the sour cream), and had an amazing lemon glaze that seeped into the cupcake.  ORIGINALLY you were supposed to gently poke little holes into the top of it before it was frosted, so that the glaze could melt down into it.  But I put Mary Frances on that job, which was a mistake.  She immediately began to savagely stab the poor cupcakes!!!!!!!  She was barbaric!  No gentle poking for her:-)  To be fair, I did have one of those moments myself...
Before this, I had never used a lemon juicer.  Like, ever.  I'd seen my dad use it in all his 'gourmet cooking' and lemon recipes, but I myself never did it.  Unfortunately, Mary was just as clueless as I was.  So I was forced to try it.  I put the lemon into the heavy duty metal squeezer-thingy-mabob, and pushed down.
Lemon juice spurted everywhere!  I squealed and leaped back, while Mary Frances doubled over with laughter.  Yes ma'am, everywhere.  For a minute I just stood there, shocked. Then I began to laugh, and we couldn't stop.  The next time we cut the lemon in half, which worked SO much better.
So if you ever try to juice a lemon with me-watch out.  I'm dangerous!!

Lemon Cream Cupcakes

1 box White Cake Mix
4 egg whites
1/4 cup oil
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
3/4 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
zest of 3 lemons
Lemon Glaze:
3 Tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1 teaspoons lemon zest
1-2 cups powdered sugar
Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3-4 cup powdered sugar
 



1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line pans with cupcake liners.
2. Sift cake mix into a small bowl to remove any lumps.
3. In a large bowl, gently whisk egg whites, oil, buttermilk, lemon juice, sour cream, vanilla and lemon zest together.
4. Combine cake mix and wet ingredients and stir well.
5. Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until and inserted knife comes out clean.
6. Lemon Glaze: In a bowl, combine all ingredients using a whisk. Add powdered sugar until your glaze reaches the consistency of tomato soup. (I can't think of anything else that has that consistency...)
7. Use a toothpick to punch small holes into the top of each cupcake so the glaze can sink into the cake.
8. Spoon glaze over the nearly cooled cupcakes, and allow time for the glaze to set.
9. Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat butter and cream cheese for 2 minutes. Scrape down bowl and continue to beat in vanilla extract and powdered sugar. Slowly add powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency. If frosting becomes too thick, add 1 tablespoon of milk.
10. Pipe frosting into cooled cupcakes and top with lemon slices or sprinkles.

 

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10 comments

  1. Those look yummy not to mention cute! Ah, the joys of a lemon!!!

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  2. All my dad knows how to make is soup in a can, grilled cheese, pancakes (SERIOUSLY the best in the world), and eggs...wow! Your dad is an awesome cook! Id love to come over... :) I have been wanting to have some friends over lately....

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  3. :):) Beautiful pictures (and cupcakes!)

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    Replies
    1. I would say..so professional!

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    2. Thanks you two! I love taking pictures of food, if you couldn't tell:-)

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  4. Ya dont have a recipe???

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  5. Whoa, these seriously sound delicious! I love reading your writing, Chloe! sounds like a LOT of fun! And the pictures are absolutely beatiful!!!!!!!!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! We had a blast making them:-) I always love your comments!

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    2. Thanks ya lady..how do you post the cutest cupcakes and NOT add the recipe...seriously. Jk! Thanks!!!!

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    3. Well, it wasn't our recipe:) and I think she was trying to highlight the photography part vs. the cooking ... Looking awesome Chloe! I'm holding off a little longer since my pics look like your ;) ... fun post! I AM a toothpick terror aren't I?! :)

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