Lemon Cupcakes with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

                                                                            

I'm just going to start off by saying that the frosting is just spectacular. LOVED IT :D. The cake itself was quite nice, but the frosting was the true star. The recipes make 24 cupcakes.

Lemon Cupcake Recipe from My Baking Addiction
2 1/4 cups cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
4 large egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar
lemon zest from two lemons
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pure lemon extract


1. Center a rack in the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare cupcake tins by using liners or spray with non-stick cooking spray
2. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.
3. Whisk together the milk and egg whites in a medium bowl.
4. Put the sugar and lemon zest in a mixer bowl or another large bowl and rub them together with your fingers until the sugar is moist and fragrant. Add the butter and, working with the paddle or whisk attachment, or with a hand mixer, beat at medium speed for a full 3 minutes, until the butter and sugar are very light.
5. Beat in the extracts, then add one third of the flour mixture, still beating on medium speed. Beat in half of the milk-egg mixture, then beat in half of the remaining dry ingredients until incorporated.
6. Add the rest of the milk and eggs, beating until the batter is homogeneous, then add the last of the dry ingredients.
7. Finally, give the batter a good 2-minute beating to ensure that it is thoroughly mixed and well aerated. Place the batter into the cupcake tins.
8. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the cupcakes are well risen and springy to the touch – a thin knife inserted into the centers should come out clean. Cool on wire rack.

Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese Recipe from Chaos in the Kitchen

• 8 oz cream cheese, room temp
• 8 tbsp unsalted butter, room temp
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 vanilla bean pod
• 3-4 cups powdered sugar

1. Slit your vanilla bean in half and use the tip of your knife to scrape the vanilla bean paste from each side of the pod.
2. Whip cream cheese in a mixing bowl until smooth.
3. Add butter and beat to combine.
4. Add vanilla and vanilla bean paste.
5. Beat in powdered sugar a little at a time until frosting is as thick and sweet as you’d like.

Enjoy!