Olive Oil Cupcake Wbalsamic Whipped Cream Food

LEMON-OLIVE OIL CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 12-cup muffin pans with paper liners.
• Make the cupcakes: Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Combine the olive oil and sugar in a large bowl and beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy, about 4 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then beat in the vanilla and lemon zest. Reduce the speed to low; beat in the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the milk. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until combined.
• Divide the batter among the muffin cups, filling them three-quarters of the way. Bake until the tops are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes in the pan, then remove to a rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: Combine the egg whites and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and place over a small pot of simmering water (make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water). Whisk by hand until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is warm to the touch, about 5 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pot and attach to the mixer; beat with the whisk attachment on high speed until the meringue is shiny and holds stiff peaks, about 7 minutes. Switch to the paddle attachment. With the mixer on medium speed, gradually add the butter and beat until smooth, 1 more minute. Add the vanilla and mix until just combined. Spread the frosting on the cupcakes.

LEMON-OLIVE OIL CUPCAKES WITH COCONUT WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• For the coconut whipped cream: Chill the bowl and whisk of a stand mixer in the freezer for about 10 minutes. If they are not very cold, the cream will not whip properly. Skim the solidified coconut cream from the chilled can of coconut milk and transfer the solids to the bowl of the stand mixer. Do not include any of the coconut water, even if you have to leave behind a little margin of coconut cream (even a little bit of coconut water can harm your results).
• Add the powdered sugar and whip for a few minutes until the mixture begins to stiffen and turn into whipped cream. Chill the whipped cream in a covered container in the refrigerator. It should firm up even more as it sits in the refrigerator for the next few hours or overnight.
• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 12-cup muffin pans with 14 cupcake liners and spray the liners with cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the oil, maple syrup, lemon zest and juice, lemon extract and 3/4 cup water. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and whisk until just combined. Do not overmix.
• Fill the cupcake liners evenly with the batter. Bake for about 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the cupcakes comes out dry, with a few crumbs clinging to it. Rotate halfway through the baking time. Cool the cupcakes completely before unmolding.
• To serve: Top each cupcake with some coconut whipped cream. Garnish each cupcake with fresh berries, mint leaves and/or lemon zest.