Strawberry Lemon Cupcakes

on
Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Hello again.  It's been a while, hasn't it?  I guess that's the theme over the past year.  Well I'm still here and if you're still here it's a real miracle.  How have you been?  What's new?  Are you following the election?  Do you still read food blogs?  Or are you more of a snapchatter these days?

I'm doin' just fine.  As far as blogs, well I do still read a few but I've cut down a lot.  A lot!  When I can't scroll down to read the blog post because it's so bogged down with ads, that's a problem.  I removed my ad a few months ago.  I think it was a good decision.  I'm not so much into this to make money.  If so I really need to start posting more than once every three months.

Also, aren't food blogs sooo much better these days than when we all first started?  Food blogs now have amazing photography and videos and the sites themselves are so professional.  I'm not even going to try and compete!  I'll just occasionally bake a batch of cupcakes, take pictures with my old camera and post whenever I'm feeling creative.  That'll do just fine.

Let's see what have I been up to?  Flying, flying, flying, eating, snapchatting, riding bicycles, baking sometimes, eating, hiking, exploring, reading, traveling, pigging out.

Let's get to the cupcakes:




These are the PERFECT lemon cupcake.  They're perfectly fluffy and I hate the word moist, but they're perfectly moist.  This makes a batch of twelve cupcakes but if you need more the recipe doubles easily.  The buttercream is crazy good and uses crushed freeze dried strawberries.  Freeze dried fruit is amazing for baking because it adds a ton of flavor without too much moisture.  Trader Joes has a lot of freeze dried fruit options.

I've never been much of a decorator (I wish I was!) so I just covered the cupcakes with sprinkles.

Happy Spring!  Happy Easter!


Strawberry Lemon Cupcakes

2 cups cake flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Zest and juice of one lemon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large egg yolks
3/4 cup warm milk

Strawberry Buttercream

1 1/2 cups freeze dried strawberries
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a 12 cup muffin pan with paper liners.

In a medium bowl, sift together cake flour, baking powder and salt.  In a large mixing bowl using a mixer on medium speed, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in lemon zest, juice vanilla and egg yolks until well combined.  Reduce mixer speed to low and beat in dry ingredients, alternating with milk.

Divide batter into muffin pan.  Bake 12-15 minutes or until well risen and a toothpick inserted into cake comes out with moist crumbs attached.  Cool 5 minutes before transferring cupcakes to a wire rack to cool.

To make the strawberry buttercream, process the strawberries in a food processor until finely pulverized.  Combine strawberry dust, butter, confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.  Mix together using a mixer on medium speed until well combined and fluffy.  Frost cupcakes with buttercream and decorate with sprinkles, if desired.

Makes 12 cupcakes
29 comments on "Strawberry Lemon Cupcakes"
  1. These look great for Easter! They remind me of my strawberry lemon cake in cupcake form - only a lot less work. I know what you mean about blogs being so full of ads you can't read them. That's why I will never monetize (although I wish I could monetize to the point where I made enough money and blogged for a living). My blog always looks the same though. Ever since my last camera broke and I replaced it with a cheap one, I have really been phoning in the photos. My poor light box is quite neglected.

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    1. Your blog was one of the first ones I ever read! I really enjoy your writing, Rachel!

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  2. These look great! I still read food blogs but not nearly as many as I used to. I also don't post as much as I used to...once in a great while. I was glad to read what you wrote about ads on blogs. If it takes more than a few seconds to load because there are so many ads, I'm gone! Thanks for this recipe...I will try it!

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    1. Glad you're still reading, Debbie! I'm the same way.

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  3. i know what you mean about ads--there are some sites i used to love but now i can't tolerate the loading time! i also agree about the quality of food blogs these days--i definitely can't compete and won't even try, at least not as long as i still have a full time job!
    lovely cupcakes--happy easter!

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    1. Blogs are incredible these days! People spend a lot of time and money on them.

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  4. Glad you are back! I have always loved your blog. This recipe sounds delicious. I have a question for you. I went to your blog a couple of months ago and the formatting and name and everything was changed. I was completing confused and wondered what happened. Now it seems like it's back to how it was.

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    1. Hi Jessica! I can't believe you still read! Gosh I'm not sure what it was. For a little while I was deleting a lot of blog posts and personal info. Maybe that was it! I think I better stick with just posting recipes on here, cause life can change real fast.

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  5. I hate sites that are just overwhelmed with ads and you have to figure out where the actual post is.
    I'd rather have your posts on basic things that I can actually make than some of the lah-di-dah blogs that are out there. A lot of the jazzier ones with the 'famous' chefs aren't even done by that person but by their staff. We always know yours are real and you've made the recipe.
    Plus you're way more fun that the fancy ones are!!

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  6. Wow those cupcakes look amazing! And each one is unique in it's own way :) Thanks for the recipe

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  7. still read blogs...hooked on some...thank you so much for the freeze dried fruit tip...

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  8. Mmm... Looking really good. I will make these with my daughter this weekend!

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  9. Your blog was the first one I ever started reading 7 or so years ago so I'm glad to see you're still at it and doing well! I've loved following your journey. I will always appreciate a blog not covered in ads. Thanks for the cute recipe!

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    1. Hi Amanda! Gosh thanks so much for reading! That makes me feel so good. I apologize for being so absent lately.

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  10. I'm so glad you are back! I've followed your blog for a number of years and I thought you had just gotten busy with life. I look forward to seeing what recipes you come up with next.

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    1. Hi Stephanie! Sorry for being gone so much, I kinda had a rough year. I'm looking forward to baking more ASAP! Thanks for reading!

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  11. Yay for no ads, I totally agree with you! Thanks for sharing these cupcakes--they practically scream spring! :) I can't wait to make some!

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  12. I have a blog too but its just for fun. I can relate to your post. Can't compete. I started following you about 4 years ago, I guess. I just check your bog. :) I don't really follow anyone anymore, but I agree, it was better without all the ads. Have a great day!

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    1. Hi Amanda, it's gotten to be too much with ads and sponsored posts. I skip reading all of those blog posts from people.

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  13. Hi Emily - I couldn't agree with you more about not trying to compete with other blogs. It reminds me of practicing yoga - don't worry about what everyone else around you is doing and trying to keep up with them. Just focus on what you're doing and there is a lot of benefit that will come from that. Hope you're doing well.

    BTW - the cupcakes look wonderful!

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    1. I like your way of thinking, Jim. That's exactly what I'm going to do. I told myself that when blogging got to me no fun, I'd quit. But I still find enjoyment in it. Just more at my pace. :)

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  14. I'm so glad you're back! But I hope you'll still talk about good airport food from time to time. We all need to know where it is!

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  15. These cupcakes are gorgeous, and strawberry and lemon is a winning combination.

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  16. These cupcakes make me drool. Lemon ones are my favorite!

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