Celebration Cupcakes With Citrus Frosting Food

CITRUS CUPCAKES WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line one 12-cup or two 6-cup muffin tins with cupcake liners. For the frosting: Put the chocolate chips and shortening in a medium microwavable bowl. Microwave on high, stirring halfway between cooking time, until the chocolate is melted, 40 to 50 seconds. Stir until smooth. With an electric mixer on low speed, beat the cream cheese in a medium bowl until smooth, about 1 minute. Beat in the melted chocolate, orange juice, vanilla and salt until blended. With the mixer on low speed, beat in the confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside. Makes 2 cups. For the cupcakes: Whisk together the flour, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. With an electric mixer on high speed, beat the butter, sugar, vanilla and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add the egg and egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. With the mixer on medium speed, beat in the sour cream, zest and juice until blended. Add the flour mixture on low speed and beat until just blended. Fill each muffin cup two-thirds full with the batter. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool in the tin on a rack for 10 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the tin and let cool completely on the rack. To assemble: With a small metal spatula, spread the frosting over the tops of the cooled cupcakes. Use assorted fruit and candies to decorate the cupcakes.
• Active Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes (includes cooling time)

CELEBRATION CUPCAKES WITH CITRUS FROSTING

Steps:

• Cupcake:.
• Preheat oven to 350°F Line cupcake pans with paper liners. Set aside.
• Stir together flour, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in large bowl. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat sugar and 3/4 cup butter at medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until creamy.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Add 1 tablespoon vanilla.
• Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition, just until mixed.
• Divide batter evenly among cupcake cups and bake for 23 to 28 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.
• Cool on wire racks 10 minutes and remove cupcakes from pans. Cool completely.
• Frosting:.
• In a large bowl, beat 3/4 cup butter at medium speed until creamy.
• Gradually add powdered sugar and 1/8 teaspoon salt alternately with half & half and 1 teaspoon vanilla, lemon or orange peel, scraping bowl often, until well mixed.
• Stir in corn syrup.
• Frost cupcakes.

CELEBRATION CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Line 2 x 12-hole muffin tins with paper cases. Put the eggs, yogurt, vanilla, sugar, flour, almonds and butter in your largest mixing bowl and beat until smooth and lump-free. Divide between the paper cases and bake for 25-30 mins (swapping the trays after 15 mins if you have to use 2 shelves) until a skewer poked into the centre of the cakes comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. They can be frozen for up to 1 month or kept in an airtight container overnight.
• To decorate, beat the butter and icing sugar together until smooth and light. Use a teaspoon to spoon a heaped dollop into the centre of each cake or, for speed, spoon into a food bag, cut about 2cm off the corner and pipe a dollop onto each.
• Divide the icing into as many colours as you want - plus a piece left to be white, or to brush with glitter, if you like. Knead a little colouring into each piece until you have a good colour, then roll out onto a surface lightly dusted with icing sugar. Use a 6.5cm fluted cutter to stamp out rounds and press down onto the icing to flatten it a bit. Repeat with the other colours to cover all the cakes. Now decorate as you wish, or see our ideas, below.