The tastes of summer come alive in these flavorful homemade cupcakes. They can be made with any berry for the frosting, but I think blackberry or raspberry are particularly nice. You may think I used food color in the frosting, but that color comes completely from the cooked berries, which also provide a delicious flavor.
I made these as a birthday treat for my mother-in-law after she saw photos of my fresh strawberry cupcakes. Both are nice little summer treats.
Ingredients
Lemon Cupcakes:
1 3/4 cups cake flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large egg whites, at room temperature
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, soft
1 cup granulated sugar
Zest of one lemon (about 2 teaspoons)
1 teaspoon lemon extract/flavor
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Blackberry Buttercream:
1 cup blackberries
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons sugar
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, soft
1/2 cup (4 ounces) solid vegetable shortening (Crisco)
1 teaspoon blackberry extract or flavor
4-5 cups confectioners’ (powdered) sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
12-18 blackberries, for garnish
Instructions
Lemon Cupcakes
Let butter and eggs come to room temperature before beginning. Then, preheat oven to 350F degrees and line a muffin tin with paper liners and set aside. Recipe makes 12-18 cupcakes. If using standard sized cupcake pans and liners, it will make 18 cupcakes. If using larger tulip paper lines, it will make 12 cupcakes.
In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine. Set aside.
In a large measuring cup or bowl combine sour cream, milk, vanilla, and egg whites. Mix well to combine. Set aside.
In a small bowl combine sugar and lemon zest. Using your fingertips, rub the zest into the sugar, until fragrant and well combined.
In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment beat softened butter and sugar on medium speed until combined and fluffy; about 2 minutes. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter/sugar combination, beating until just combined. Add in sour cream/milk/egg mixture and the lemon extract and juice, and beat on low until just combined. Do not over mix.
Divide the cupcake batter evenly into the paper-lined molds, then place the pan(s) in the oven. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
Blackberry Sauce
While the cakes bake, make the sauce. Combine the blackberries, sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and stir constantly until blackberries have become soft enough to mash.; about 6-7 minutes. Remove from heat. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a small bowl and push the puree though with a silicon spatula or back of a spoon, leaving any seeds/large chunks in the strainer. Allow blackberry sauce to cool completely in the refrigerator.
Blackberry Buttercream Frosting
When the cupcakes are at room temperature and the blackberry sauce is cool, make the buttercream frosting.
In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment beat butter and shortening on medium-speed until completely smooth, scraping down the sides when needed; about 2 minutes. Add in the blackberry sauce and blackberry extract, and beat until completely combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl if needed. Add in the confectioners’ sugar, one cup at a time, on low speed until you reach the desired consistency. Once the sugar has been added, add in salt then increase speed to medium-high and beat for 2 minutes. Frost cupcakes and if not using immediately refrigerate until 1 hour before serving. When ready to serve, top with blackberries if desired as a garnish.
Ingredients
Lemon Cupcakes:
1 3/4 cups cake flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large egg whites, at room temperature
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, soft
1 cup granulated sugar
Zest of one lemon (about 2 teaspoons)
1 teaspoon lemon extract/flavor
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Blackberry Buttercream:
1 cup blackberries
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons sugar
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, soft
1/2 cup (4 ounces) solid vegetable shortening (Crisco)
1 teaspoon blackberry extract or flavor
4-5 cups confectioners’ (powdered) sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
12-18 blackberries, for garnish
Instructions
Lemon Cupcakes
Let butter and eggs come to room temperature before beginning. Then, preheat oven to 350F degrees and line a muffin tin with paper liners and set aside. Recipe makes 12-18 cupcakes. If using standard sized cupcake pans and liners, it will make 18 cupcakes. If using larger tulip paper lines, it will make 12 cupcakes.
In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine. Set aside.
In a large measuring cup or bowl combine sour cream, milk, vanilla, and egg whites. Mix well to combine. Set aside.
In a small bowl combine sugar and lemon zest. Using your fingertips, rub the zest into the sugar, until fragrant and well combined.
In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment beat softened butter and sugar on medium speed until combined and fluffy; about 2 minutes. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter/sugar combination, beating until just combined. Add in sour cream/milk/egg mixture and the lemon extract and juice, and beat on low until just combined. Do not over mix.
Divide the cupcake batter evenly into the paper-lined molds, then place the pan(s) in the oven. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
Blackberry Sauce
While the cakes bake, make the sauce. Combine the blackberries, sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and stir constantly until blackberries have become soft enough to mash.; about 6-7 minutes. Remove from heat. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a small bowl and push the puree though with a silicon spatula or back of a spoon, leaving any seeds/large chunks in the strainer. Allow blackberry sauce to cool completely in the refrigerator.
Blackberry Buttercream Frosting
When the cupcakes are at room temperature and the blackberry sauce is cool, make the buttercream frosting.
In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment beat butter and shortening on medium-speed until completely smooth, scraping down the sides when needed; about 2 minutes. Add in the blackberry sauce and blackberry extract, and beat until completely combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl if needed. Add in the confectioners’ sugar, one cup at a time, on low speed until you reach the desired consistency. Once the sugar has been added, add in salt then increase speed to medium-high and beat for 2 minutes. Frost cupcakes and if not using immediately refrigerate until 1 hour before serving. When ready to serve, top with blackberries if desired as a garnish.
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