Email to Stella      

Recipe Categories: Stella's HOME PAGEAPPETIZERS BAKING_SITES BBQ BEAUTY BEEF BEVERAGES BIOGRAPHY BREAD BREAKFAST BROWNIESandBARS BUTTERS_SPREADS CAKES CANDY CANNING_PRESERVING CASSEROLES CELEBRITY CHEESECAKES CHOCOHOLICS_ANONYMOUS COMFORT_FOOD COOKIES COOKING_FOR_2 COPYCAT CRAFT_RECIPES CROCKPOT DESSERTS DIABETIC DIETS ENTERTAINING ETHNIC FISHandSEAFOOD FONDUE FREEZER_FRIENDLY FROSTINGandFILLING FRUIT FUDGE GIFT_BASKET GIFT_JARS GLUTEN_FREE GRILL HINTSandTIPS HOLIDAYS HOMEMADE_PRODUCTS ICE_CREAM JAMSandJELLIES KIDDIE_MENU LOWFAT LOW_CARB MARINADES_RUBS MINUTE_MEALS MUFFINS OAMC PASTA PASTRIES PET_FOOD pHBalance PICNICandCAMPING PIES PIZZA POLITICIAN_FAVORITES PORK POULTRY PRESSURECOOKER QUANTITY_COOKING SALADandDRESSING SANDWICHES SAUCES SEWING_CRAFTS SIDE_DISHES SNACKS SOUPS_STEWS_CHOWDER_CHILI SOUTH_BEACH_DIET STATE_RECIPES TOP_TEN VEGETABLES VEGETARIAN

Cupcakes: Spring Cupcakes




Source of Recipe


Lacy Roxburgh


List of Ingredients




3 cups cake flour (not self-rising), sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups, plus more for finishing sugar
5 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
Swiss Meringue Buttercream *
2 cups cream-colored sprinkles
About 2 pounds assorted jellied-citrus slices


Recipe



1. Preheat oven to 325° with a rack in the center. Line jumbo muffin pans with paper baking cups; set aside. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda; set aside.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. With mixer running, add eggs and vanilla extract; beat until combined.

3. With mixer on low speed, add 1 cup reserved flour mixture; mix until combined. Add 1/2 cup buttermilk; combine. Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk, ending with flour, until all has been incorporated.

4. Divide batter evenly among baking cups. Bake until light golden brown and a cake tester inserted into middle comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Rotate pans halfway through baking. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool.

5. To decorate, frost each cupcake with about 3 tablespoons buttercream. Gently press each frosted cupcake into sprinkles, rolling around so that entire surface is coated. On a lightly sugared piece of parchment paper, roll out jellied-citrus slices to about 1/8 inch thick. Use 3/4- to 2-inch gum-paste petal cutters to cut petals from the jellied-citrus slices. Use a 3/4- or 1/4-inch pastry tip to cut out the centers of flowers. Use the green citrus slices and a small petal cutter to cut out leaves for the flowers. Place citrus dots in center of cupcakes, and arrange jellied petals around each center to form a flower. Arrange leaves as desired.

*Meringue Buttercream

Makes 3 cups, enough for one 2- to 3-layer cake or about 2 dozen cupcakes
This buttercream holds its shape particularly well, making it good for decorating. If the buttercream becomes too soft while piping, stir it over an ice-water bath until it stiffens.

1 1/4 cups sugar
1/3 cup water
5 large egg whites
Pinch cream of tartar
1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring sugar and water to a boil. Clip a candy thermometer onto the saucepan. Boil the syrup, brushing down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to prevent crystallization, until the syrup registers 240°, soft-ball stage.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on low speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar, and beat on medium high until stiff but not dry peaks form.

3. With the mixer running, pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl (to prevent splattering) into the egg whites in a steady stream, and beat on high speed until the steam is no longer visible, about 3 minutes. Beat in butter, piece by piece. Add vanilla; beat until smooth and spreadable, 3 to 5 minutes. If it looks curdled at any point during the beating process, continue beating until smooth.