Lemon Pudding Poke Cupcakes With Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting Food

LEMON-CREAM CHEESE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Beat first 5 ingredients in large bowl with mixer on low speed 1 min. or until dry ingredients are moistened. (Batter will be thick.) Beat on medium speed 2 min. Spoon into 24 paper-lined muffin cups.
• Bake 21 to 24 min. or until toothpick inserted in centres comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 min.; remove to wire racks. Cool completely.
• Beat cream cheese, butter and lemon juice in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Gradually add sugar, beating well after each addition. Spread onto cupcakes.

LEMON CUPCAKES WITH LEMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Line twenty-four 2 1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups; set aside. In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar and beat until well combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each. Add flour mixture and buttermilk or sour milk alternately to beaten mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Stir in lemon peel and lemon juice (batter may appear slightly curdled). Divide evenly among prepared muffin cups.
• Bake in a 350° oven for 15 to 18 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center of the cupcakes comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans for 5 minutes; remove from pans and cool thoroughly on wire racks.**.
• When completely cooled, pipe or spread with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting. Decorate as desired with additional piped frosting, edible flowers (pesticide-free), shaved white chocolate, and lemon zest. Store frosted cupcakes in a covered container and keep refrigerated. Makes 24 cupcakes.
• Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting: Finely shred 1 teaspoon lemon peel; set aside. In a medium mixing bowl combine two 3-ounce packages cream cheese, softened; 1/2 cup butter, softened; and 1 teaspoon lemon juice; beat with electric mixer on low to medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, beating well. Gradually beat in 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 cups additional powdered sugar to make frosting that is easy to spread. Stir in the lemon peel. If desired, tint some of the frosting with pink gel icing color for decorating.
• *NOTE: To make sour milk, place 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar in a glass measuring cup, then add enough milk to make 1 cup. Let stand 5 minutes before using.
• **MAKE AHEAD: Freeze unfrosted cupcakes in a freezer container for up to 3 months. Bring to room temperature before frosting. The frosting can be made up to 3 days ahead, covered, and refrigerated. Set out at room temperature to soften enough to spread.

CREAMY LEMON "POKE" CAKE

Steps:

• Bake cake according to box directions, using two 8 inch round pans.
• While cake is baking, whip together cream cheese, lemon juice and powdered sugar into creamy frosting.
• When cake is done baking, cool for ten minutes then spread approximately 1/3 frosting on top only of the first cake round.
• Place second cake round directly on top of first and poke appx. 10-15 holes down through cakes with round handle of wooden spoon, staying at least 1/2 inch away from edge of cake at 1-inch intervals.
• Make pudding as directed.
• Using a small funnel, immediately pour about 1/2 of the thin pudding into holes.
• Let remaining pudding mixture stand to thicken slightly.
• Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake.
• Spoon thickened pudding over top of cake, swirling with a toothpick to "frost" cake.
• Sprinkle grated lemon peel over top of cake to garnish.
• Refridgerate at least 1 hour or until ready to serve. Store cake in refrigerator.