Lemony Cupcakes

Stolen from Chatelaine, May 2005, page 202.

Birthday season is coming up. At least if you make it from scratch, you KNOW what goes in it.

Cupcakes:
1 2/3 c. flour
1 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 lemon
1/2 c. unsalted butter, room temp.
1 1/4 white sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
2/3 c. milk

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line 12 cup muffin tin with paper. Stir flour, baking powder and salt with a fork. Grate peel from lemon, then stir into flour mixture.
2. Place butter in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, gradually beat in 1 c. of sugar until creamy. Scrape down side.
3. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla.
4. Gradually beat in 1/3 of the flour mixture, then 1/2 the milk. Repeat additions, ending with remaining third of flour mixture. Spoon into muffin cups, filling three-quarters full.
5. Bake in centre of oven about 25 mins (you know the drill - poke it and make sure it's done).
6. Meanwhile, squeeze 3 T of juice from the lemon into a small bowl. Stir in 1/4 c. of sugar (it won't completely dissolve). Remove cupcakes from oven, leave in pan and place on a rack.
7. Using a toothpick or skewer, poke several holes in top of each. Evenly brush 1/2 the lemon juice mixture over tops of cupcakes. Cool in pan 10 min, then bruch remaining lemon juice mixture over top. Let stand 10 min, then carefully turn out of pan and finish cooling on rack. When cupcakes are completely cool, spread frosting over top.

Makes 12.

MBR's modifications - obviously, for this amount of work, I would be making 24 cupcakes, not just 12. I would eat 12 and then there would be none left if I didn't double it!

Icing Recipe:

Place 200g cream cheese, at room temperature in a bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat until smooth, then gradually beat in 2 T each of freshly squeezed lemon juice, liquid honey, and 1 t of vanilla. Makes 1 cup.

*** double this sucker too!

Calories (if you really wanted to know): 3.4 g protein, 12.1 g fat, 48.2 carbs, 310 calories. Egads...better only eat one!