Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Lemon and Limoncello Mini Cupcakes

Fancy a bit of zing...then these little beauties are for you! It would be difficult to get more zingy than a lemon and Limoncello cupcake. They're also mini cupcakes so they're perfectly bitesize and it was a little bit difficult to stop at one!
This is my entry into May's Random Recipes, you can find out more from Dom at Belleau Kitchen. This month to select the random recipe, a cookbook was selected with eyes shut and then for the first time in random recipes history there was a choice of recipes...either the recipe on the first page or the last page. I decided to follow Dom's lead and  (fairly carefully!) fling my cookbooks all over the lounge floor, I then riffled through and my hand settled on this gem hiding amongst the big boys.

So the book I randomly selected was Hamlyn's 200 mini cakes & bakes. I then had a choice of two recipes but I settled on this one on the first page...I won't tell you what was on the back page as I'm hoping to make that one too.

These cupcakes are so easy to make, they're just a simple sponge cupcake, topped with a luscious layer of lemon curd and a pretty buttercream swirl which has both lemon juice and Limoncello mixed in. The finished product is a fairly unassuming cupcake but once you bite into it, it packs a punch. I used Limonce limoncello which is an Italian liqueur made by steeping lemon peels in alcohol.

The only mishap I had was the loss of my lemon curd...I bought it on the way home and then couldn't find it for love nor money for about an hour...I found it eventually on the wall outside my front door! This is quite funny as this week I was reading a blog post about some lost blueberries which turned up a month later under a car seat.

Anyways.... this is also my entry into the 'One Ingredient Challenge', hosted by Laura at How to Cook Good Food and Working London Mummy. An ingredient is selected each month and it is then up to you what you do with it, sweet or savoury...this month just happens to be lemons and as I said, you can't get much more lemony than these mini cupcakes!

For this challenge your recipes should also be family friendly...obviously I don't advocate making Limoncello cupcakes for children (!) but I also made some without as I wasn't sure how strong the cupcakes would taste. I left it out completely for half the cupcakes but if you wanted that lemon hit, a lemon sugar syrup would have the same effect when drizzled over the cake.

Ingredients

65g lightly salted butter
65g caster sugar
65g self-raising flour
1 lemon, zest and 1 tbsp juice
1 egg
3 tbsp limoncello liquer

Icing

5 tbsp lemon curd
75g unsalted butter
100g icing sugar

Preheat the oven to 180c/160c fan/gas 4 and put 16 mini silicone muffin cases on a baking sheet. I didn't have silicone so I just used traditional cases in a mini muffin pan.

This recipe is really easy. To make the cakes you just need to mix up the butter, sugar, flour, lemon zest and egg in a mixing bowl unitl it's lovely and light and fluffy, before spooning into the cases. Then bake for around 10-12 minutes. Be sure not to over cook them, they should be just firm. When cooked put on a wire rack before removing form the silicone cases after about 2 minutes. You can then drizzle over 2 tablespoons of Limoncello.

Once called spread divide about 2 tablespoons of lemon curd between the cakes and spread over the top with a knife. Finally, make up the icing by putting the butter (softened), icing sugar, lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of Limoncello into a bowl and mixing until smooth and creamy. The recipe initially called for 50g of icing sugar which was nowhere near enough, so I've increased it to 100g but I think I probably used more like 150g. Then put your icing into a piping bag with a star nozzle and pipe pretty little swirls on to the top of each cake.

* Adapted from Hamlyn's 200 mini cakes & bakes

34 comments:

  1. These look amazing. I have a miniature of limoncello sat in my cupboard (bought for an experiment- but now can't actually remember what!)- think I've just found a use for it! x

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    1. This is a great inspiring article.I am pretty much pleased with your good work.You put really very helpful information. Keep it up. Keep blogging. Looking to reading your next post.
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  2. I adore limoncello so these are an absolute must for me to make. It's that sharp sherbetty taste I can't get enough of. Nice little book and lovely first recipe. Can't wait to see the last!! Thanks so much for the entry. A fun one this months think!

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  3. Thanks Emma! Definitely recommended...so lemony but they don't really taste of alcohol! :-)

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  4. These are so adorable! I would love to have a dozen right now :)

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  5. They are just so perfect and must be so delicate. A yummy little treat!

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  6. Nice! I am making my way thourgh the recipes of the Primrose Bakery..just started with the basics today! But definitely looking forward to try their more "advanced" options later on! Good luck going through the book!

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  7. these look adorable! and great photos. Thanks for entering the challenge!

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  8. The random recipe thing is a pretty cool theme! Also, you did land on a good book, since mini individual cakes always make for a good presentation! These little citrus gems do look pretty addictive, especially knowing that the limoncello is in there-yum! You did a great job on the icing, they look so professional!

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  9. Though the cupcakes are basic sponge what steals the show is the icing. Icing looks well presented.

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  10. These cupcakes are so cute. Love the butter cream swirl on top.
    The random kitchen looks interesting. Will definitely stop by to check out.

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  11. I am craving these sooooo much...

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  12. How beautiful these little cakes are. I just love anything sweet and lemony and these are perfect!
    Thanks so much for entering these into #oneingredient this month Laura . Such a good idea using Limoncello too :-) xx

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  13. these are adorable - what piping nozzle did you use?

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  14. What a LOVELY entry for RR! I am a BIG lover of all things lemon and these look wonderful!
    Karen

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  15. Hmm yum! I love anything citrus, these seem like they would be perfect to take to a summer BBQ if our English summer ever decides to turn up! Loved the part where you found your lemon curd on the wall, lucky for you that it was still there, you must have honest neighbours! haha

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  16. Bellissimo! My friend has one of these pans and I have my eye on it! Love limoncello in fact you sparked an idea that I really should make some more and then I could post it and that would save you some money too - that and its lushious!

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  17. Ooooo Cakeboule...I definitely think you should make some Limoncello...I never thought about making it myself!

    Emine it's a Wilton 1M nozzle! :-)

    Gem...yes very trustworthy neighbours...it was just a little bit soggy from the rain!!

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  18. These mini cupcakes are gorgeous! I love lemons and the addition of limoncello is genius.

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  19. I have a few too many lemons in the garden at the moment, so this is perfect... plus who doesn't love cheese cream:) Thanks for sharing.

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  20. I love the addition of limoncello liquer to it.... makes it more of an adult cupcake.

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  21. I love everything mini! these limoncello cupcakes sound amazing and they look very cute

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  22. Ooh, I have a feeling I wouldn't be able to stop at eating one. My name is Jo and I'm a lemon addict! The look so cute with their little swirl of buttercream.

    By the way I've nominated you for a couple of blog awards. You can find out more about them through this link: http://whatdoyoumakeofmycake.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/awards-facts-and-muffins.html

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  23. Thanks so much Jo...I'm on my way over to check it out! :-)

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  24. These are gorgeous! Your piping is perfect! Excellent bake and I love lemon curd and limoncello :)

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  25. I've nominated you for some awards - check it out :-)

    http://misscakeaholic.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/awards.html

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  26. Gorgeous! Lemon cupcakes with lemon curd are my favourite - the Limoncello addition sounds great! Beautiful pictures :)

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  27. Beautiful, my favourite buttercream is a curd one xxx

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  28. I love lemon curd and Limoncello so these would make the perfect cupcakes!

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  29. What a lovely little entry to Doms Challenge. They look delicious.

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  30. So cute and perfect, especially balancing on top of the bottle! A lovely Random Recipe :-)

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  31. Wow!
    You made making Lemon and Limoncello Mini Cupcakes seem so simple!
    Would you join us in our food community www.mycookbook.com and let us know how you worked on the Lemon and Limoncello Mini Cupcakes perfectly ?

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