Lemon cupcakes
Chef:
Rachel Allen
These zesty lemon cupcakes by Rachel Allen are the perfect accompaniment for an afternoon cup of tea.
125g butter, softened
125g caster sugar
Finely grated zest ½ large lemon (keeping the zest of the remaining ½ lemon for the lemon icing)
2 eggs, beaten
150g plain flour
¼ tsp baking powder
For the lemon butter icing:
75g butter, softened
125g icing sugar, sifted
Finely grated zest of ½ large lemon
1-2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
12 crystallised flowers (optional)
Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas mark 4. Line a 12-hole cake tin with 12 paper cases.
Cream the butter in a large bowl or in an electric food mixer until soft. Add the sugar and grated lemon zest and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy. Gradually add the beaten eggs, then sift in the flour and baking powder and fold into the mixture. Alternatively, whizz all the ingredients together in an electric food mixer.
Divide the mixture between the paper cases and bake in the preheated oven for 7-10 minutes, until risen and golden. When cooked, the centre of each cake should be slightly springy to the touch. Remove the cakes from the tin and place on a wire rack to cool before you ice them.
To make the lemon butter icing, cream the butter in a bowl with a wooden spoon or hand-held electric beater until very soft. Gradually add the icing sugar and beat into the butter, along with the lemon zest and enough lemon juice to soften the icing, to a spreadable consistency.
When the cupcakes are cool, spread a generous heaped teaspoon of lemon butter icing over the top of each one. Decorate with the crystallised flowers (if using them).
Serves
12
Main ingredients
Dairy, Flour, Fruit
Recipe Type
Party Food, Cakes & Baking, Dessert, Cupcakes
Special Info
Vegetarian, Pregnant Mums
Level of Difficulty
Easy
