Little Lemon Curd Cupcakes

in Diana's Recipe Book

Average Rating:  (total ratings: 3)

Servings: Makes 12 cupcakes

Comments: For all the lemon lover's out there, here's a sweet and tangy lemon curd cupcake recipe for you. The secret to these little goodies it that the small amount of lemon curd is inside each cupcake. You may use yellow food coloring to tint the frosting or you may leave it plain. Either way, they're so delicious!

Ingredients: Lemon Curd: 3 tablespoons plus 1-1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar 3 tablespoons lemon juice 4-1/2 teaspoons butter 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel OR, alternately use store-bought ready made lemon curd (a 10-ounce jar will be sufficient for this recipe) Batter: 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks/6 oz./170g) butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel 1 1/2 cups cake flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 2/3 cup buttermilk Frosting: 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick/1 oz./28g) butter, softened 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Pinch salt 2 cups confectioners' sugar 2 to 4 tablespoons milk Yellow food coloring (optional) Garnish: (optional) Thin strips of lemon peel

Instructions: For Lemon Curd: In a heavy saucepan, cook and stir sugar, lemon juice and butter until smooth. Stir a small amount into egg; return all to pan. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring constantly; cook 2 minutes longer. Stir in lemon peel. Cool 10 minutes. Cover and chill for 1-1/2 hours or until thickened. (Or, alternately use store-bought ready made lemon curd). For Cupcake Batter: In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Add vanilla and lemon peel. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Fill 12 paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350 degrees F/180 degrees C for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to a wire rack. Cool completely. Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert a small round pastry tip. Fill bag with lemon curd. Insert tip 1 inch into center of each cupcake; fill with curd just until tops of cupcakes begin to crack. For Frosting and Garnish: Place all frosting ingredients (including a couple of drops of yellow food coloring, if using) in mixing bowl and beat on medium-low speed with an electric mixer for 30 seconds, then increase speed to medium and beat for an additional 2-3 minutes until frosting is dense and creamy. Frost cooled and filled cupcakes. If desired, garnish each cupcake with thin strips of lemon peel. Store cupcakes in refrigerator loosely covered with plastic wrap. Makes 12 cupcakes. Photograph taken by Diana Baker Woodall ©2007

Date: June 3, 2007

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