Tuesday, September 30, 2008

It's Hip to be Square (and a bit Tart)



I owed a friend of mine some yummy lemon cupcakes and so I decided to put a little twist on them and make 'em square. I am now completely in love with my square cupcake pan. I think it's technically for muffins and such, but I don't care! Little tiny cakes in square form just warm my heart they are so cute this way, and dare I say it, look even more delicious.
This was a lemon buttermilk cupcake with tangy lemon buttercream icing. It's probably one of my favorite little cakes ever because it's tangy and sweet at the same time and doesn't leave you feeling like you just ate the brooklyn bridge. Of course, that can also be a bad thing, because these little babies are so tangy and refreshing you find yourself always reaching for another! The best part of all is that it starts with a cake mix. I know I know, there are many of you out there who have already turned your nose up, but this is one of the few cake mix concoctions that I highly recommend--it's FANTASTIC. I, however, NEVER recommend prepackaged frosting... If you don't believe me, try it. You'll be pleasantly surprised and it's an easy one to fall back on if you need a quick batch of cupcakes. My guess is, though, you'll make in not for convenience, but for it's awesomeness. Here's the recipe.

Cake:
1 box lemon cake mix WITHOUT pudding
3 eggs
1/2 cup softened butter
1 1/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp. baking soda
4 TBS freshly squeezed lemon juice

Combine all ingredients. Mix on low until combined, then mix at medium speed for two minutes until creamy. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake for 22-24 minutes at 350 degrees.

Frosting:
1 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
2 TBS freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla
milk if needed

Soften butter by whipping. Slowly add powdered sugar alternating with lemon juice. If frosting seems too dry, add milk 1 tsp. at a time until right consistency is reached. Add vanilla and whip frosting for about 3-4 minutes. Pipe or spread onto cooled cupcakes (or graham crackers or sugar cookies or fresh fruit, whatever, just get some of this frosting into your mouth somehow!)


3 comments:

amylouwhosews said...

All things lemon make my heart so happy. And my tastebuds!
Have you had the lemon tartelettes from Trader Joe's? Go get some, now!!

Basically, lemon curd on a cookie. Yum!

Debbie said...

Vanessa...Who is that person that is winning? I think she is cheating!!! I think you can vote once a day at least that what it seems like and since I have two computers, I have been trying to remember to do that!!! I want you to WIN!!!!

Celia said...

I've been thinking ... don't you owe ME some cupcakes? Yeah ... now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure you do.

My address is ...