Vanilla Cuppies + Lemon Curd Filling
For years, my boys and I have decorated sugar cookies as our Easter treats. I decided to up my game a bit this year and create scrumptious Vanilla Cuppies (cupcakes) with the flavors we adore most; plus little "nests" on top to add dimension!
Vanilla Cuppies Elements
2-1/2 C Organic All-Purpose Flour
2 C Organic Cane Sugar
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Sea Salt
1 Stick Butter, softened
2 Extra-Large Eggs
1 C Whole Milk
1/4 C Water
1 T Madagascar Bourbon or Mexican Vanilla Extract
Lemon Curd Elements
3 Egg Yolks, Room Temperature
2 Lemons, juiced and zested
1/3 C Organic Cane Sugar
1/8 Tsp Sea Salt
4 T Unsalted Butter, cubed
Cuppies Directions
Preheat oven to 350° degrees Fahrenheit and place the rack in the center of the oven.
Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners of choice and set aside.
Place a sifter into a medium mixing bowl and add flour, baking powder and sea salt; sift mixture into bowl.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, add sugar and butter; whisk until grainy.
Add eggs and vanilla extract to sugar mixture; mix until smooth.
Add milk and water and whisk until well incorporated.
Add dry ingredients to wet mixture; whisk, whisk, whisk.
spoon into parchment cupcake liners, about 3/4 full, and bake for 20 - 24 minutes until golden brown.
Lemon Curd Directions
In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, add egg yolks, lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar and salt; whisk well.
As mixture cooks, stir constantly and remember to scrape the sides and bottom of the pan until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon or spatula; about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and add butter, one tab at a time, stirring until smooth; transfer to a glass bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
See Recipe for Almond Buttercream Frosting.
Using a cupcake corer, remove the center of each cooled cuppie and spoon lemon curd into the hollow center.
Add frosting to a piping bag fitted with your tip of choice and frost each cuppie.
Garnish with toasted coconut (add shredded coconut to a dry skillet over high heat and stir constantly until golden brown) and mini robin eggs.