Thursday, July 28, 2011

Lemon Cupcakes with Blueberry Buttercream Frosting

I made these for a summer BBQ. I figured the fruit flavors would make for a light cupcake perfect for these hot temperatures. 

Taste: The cupcake had a perfect hint of lemon. The blueberry frosting didn't taste like blueberries at all. I even added almost double the blueberry puree. I wonder if there is blueberry extract I could have added? The frosting still tasted great though. 
Texture: Pretty dense cupcakes, but still moist. 
Would I make this again?: Yea, but I would try another fruit flavor icing. 
Lemon Cupcakes with Blueberry Buttercream Frosting
Found: Baking with Basil

Lemon Cupcakes
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
Grated zest of 3 lemons
2 Tbsp of fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is until incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in zest and vanilla. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of buttermilk and lemon juice, and beating until just combined after each.

Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until golden brown and a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes. Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.

Blueberry Buttercream Frosting
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup blueberry puree
2-3 tbsp blueberry juice (from puree)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. lemon zest
pinch of salt
5-6 cups confectioner’s sugar

With a mixer, cream the butter on medium speed until smooth.

Add blueberry puree, blueberry juice, vanilla, lemon zest and salt, and mix on medium-low until well-combined.

Gradually add in the powdered sugar, beating on low speed until combined. Then beat for 3-5 minutes on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

pic of the day

just because it's gorgeous..
found: flickr

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

defying gravity

Going to see WICKED today!! Ahhh I'm totally obsessed. Can't wait to see it.. for the 4th time! :) 
Here's my collage I originally posted here:

Monday, July 18, 2011

Sunday, July 17, 2011

sending love from europe

Last day in Europe. Brussels today, home tomorrow! :(
found: imgfave

Saturday, July 16, 2011

sending love from europe

found: imgfave
out doing just that! Off to Brussels, Belgium!

Friday, July 15, 2011

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

sending love from europe

found: pinterest
Off to the city of lights, Paris! My only goal is to see the Eiffel Tower twinkling! We somehow missed it when I went last year. We were too busy attempted to get into Moulin Rouge, meeting the mayor of Montemarte, and eating crepes from strangers. haha I can only hope this trip lives up to the last one! 

sending love from europe

Woke up in Ireland this morning. Traveling to our next destination..
found: pinterest

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

sending love from europe

I'm in Ireland! 

sending love from europe

Dear boyfie:
Even though I'm having a ton of fun over here in Europe, I sure do miss you. 
xoxo girlfie. 

Monday, July 11, 2011

Sunday, July 10, 2011

sending love from europe

found: imgfave
Out traveling the world! Off to Stonehenge today. 

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Friday, July 8, 2011

sending love from europe

I'm hitting #1 and 2 on this trip.  #3=check. Next trip: #4, 5 and 6?!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Europe bound TODAY

Leaving tonight for EUROPE! We're going to London, Dublin, Paris and Brussels. ahhh, love my life!! 
First stop:

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

4th of July cupcakes... with sparklers!

This weekend for the 4th of July, I decided to make red, white and blue cupcakes. I used the 4th of July funfetti cake mix and whipped up some buttercream. The icing was delicious, everyone was obsessed with it! I made red, white and blue frosting and piped it as three-tone! Oh, AND the boyf had got me these amazing star sparklers, so I lit them on top. I'm kind of obsessed with the pictures I got. I LOVE sparklers! 
Buttercream
2 sticks of butter, softened
2 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon of milk, if needed
food coloring

Beat butter in a medium bowl with mixer until creamy. Add confectioners’ sugar and vanilla and beat until fluffy. Mix in the milk if icing is too thick, and food coloring as desired. (I added more confectioner's sugar and milk to make the white look more white, it was a little brownish/yellow from the butter and vanilla). I mixed the red and blue separately then piped them together. 
LOVE them! :)

Monday, July 4, 2011

Happy 4th of July!!

Hope you have fun plans celebrating America!! 
found: pinterest
found: allyou