When Life Gives You Lemons, Make These Perfect Party Cupcakes
… You can still make lemonade. But why make lemonade when you can make these cupcakes!
The recipe comes from master baker Dorie Greenspan and what a wonderful recipe it is. In her book, Baking: From My Home to Yours, it appears as a lemon cake layered with raspberry jam and frosted with lemon swiss meringue buttercream. I made the cake some time ago and raspberry/lemon combination is sick (as in good) – clean, refreshing, tart and sweet. This time I was only craving lemon so I nixed the jam and went for cupcakes instead.
What is about lemon that so many of us love? For me, it’s all about the tartness. Add a few drops of lemon juice or a bit of lemon zest to pretty much anything both sweet and savory and that little bit of acidity takes it over the top and wakes just about anything out of its slumber.
Lemon and other citrus flavors have made quite a few star appearances on A Chica Bakes over the last year in the form of this pound cake, this other pound cake, this cheesecake, these cupcakes, this sorbet and these scones. (And this is not to mention all the other times when citrus is a secret ingredient) So yes, I’m partial to lemon (and orange and lime….) but my taste buds can’t help it.
However lemon isn’t the only thing about these party cupcakes that makes them special. The cake part is heavenly and will soon become my go-to cake base for future cakes. Not only is it moist and just a tad bit sweet (just how I like it) but the use of cake flour instead of all purpose and ample amount of baking powder makes it super light and fluffy, which makes me super happy.
If you’re not nuts over lemon like me, leave it out of the frosting. But don’t mess with the lemon in the cake. Or you will seriously be missing out.
Perfect Party Cake
Ingredients:
For the Cake
2 1/4 cups cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups whole milk or buttermilk
4 large egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon pure lemon extractFor the Buttercream
1 cup sugar
4 large egg whites
3 sticks (12 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from 2 large lemons)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extractDirections:
For Finishing
2/3 cup seedless raspberry preserves, stirred vigorously or warmed gently until spreadable
About 1 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconutGetting Ready
Center a rack in the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 9-x-2-inch round cake pans and line the bottom of each pan with a round of buttered parchment or wax paper. Put the pans on a baking sheet.To Make The Cake
Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk together the milk and egg whites in a medium bowl. Put the sugar and lemon zest in a mixer bowl or another large bowl and rub them together with your fingers until the sugar is moist and fragrant. Add the butter and, working with the paddle or whisk attachment, or with a hand mixer, beat at medium speed for a full 3 minutes, until the butter and sugar are very light. Beat in the extract, then add one third of the flour mixture, still beating on medium speed. Beat in half of the milk-egg mixture, then beat in half of the remaining dry ingredients until incorporated. Add the rest of the milk and eggs, beating until the batter is homogeneous, then add the last of the dry ingredients. Finally, give the batter a good 2-minute beating to ensure that it is thoroughly mixed and well aerated. Divide the batter between the two pans and smooth the tops with a rubber spatula.Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the cakes are well risen and springy to the tough – a thin knife inserted into the centers should come out clean. Transfer the cakes to cooling racks and cool for about 5 minutes, then run a knife around the sides of the cakes, unmold them and peel off the paper liners. Invert and cool to room temperature right side up. (The cooled cake layers can be wrapped airtight and stored at room temperature overnight or frozen for up to 2 months.)
To Make the Buttercream
Put the sugar and egg whites in a mixer bowl or other large heatproof bowl, fit the bowl over a pan of simmering water and whisk constantly, keeping the mixture over the heat, until it feels hot to the touch, about 3 minutes. The sugar should be dissolved, and the mixture will look like shiny marshmallow cream. Remove the bowl from the heat.Working with the whisk attachment or with a hand mixer, beat the meringue on medium speed until it is cool, about 5 minutes. Switch to the paddle attachment if you have one, and add the butter a stick at a time, beating until smooth. Once all the butter is in, beat the buttercream on medium-high speed until it is thick and very smooth, 6 to 10 minutes. During this time, the buttercream may curdle or separate – just keep beating and it will come together again. On medium speed, gradually beat in the lemon juice, waiting until each addition is absorbed before adding more, and then the vanilla. You should have a shiny, smooth, velvety, pristine white buttercream. Press a piece of plastic against the surface of the buttercream and set aside briefly.
To Assemble the Cake
Using a sharp, serrated knife and a gentle sawing motion, slice each layer horizontally in half. Put one layer cut side up on a cardboard cake round or a cake plate protected by strips of wax or parchment paper. Spread it with one third of the preserves. Cover the jam evenly with about one quarter of the buttercream. Top with another layer, spread with preserves and buttercream and then do the same with the third layer (you’ll have used all the jam and have buttercream left over). Place the last layer cut side down on top of the cake and use the remaining buttercream to frost the sides and top. Press the coconut into the frosting, patting it gently all over the sides and top.Serving
The cake is ready to serve as soon as it is assembled, but it’s best to let it set for a couple of hours in a cool room. Serve it at room temperature with anything from milk to sweet or bubbly wine.Storing
The cake is best the day it is made, but you can refrigerate it, well covered, for up to 2 days.
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hungrysofia — February 5, 2010 @ 6:51 pm
Are you going to try her new pop-up store?
Paris Pastry — February 5, 2010 @ 7:45 pm
I love lemon too. The taste of it reminds me of summer, even if I'm eating it in winter. Lemon & raspberry are one of my all-time favorite combinations ♥!
ABowlOfMush — February 5, 2010 @ 8:11 pm
These are so cute and beautiful
Dawn — February 5, 2010 @ 11:45 pm
yes they are perfect aren't they? that hint of lemon in a perfect cake batter….sigh
sophia — February 6, 2010 @ 6:54 am
That cookbook is my FAVORITE cookbook. EVERYTHING I made from there turned out super delicious. I love Dorie Greenspan, and I love these lovely cupcakes!
5 Star Foodie — February 6, 2010 @ 4:03 pm
They do look absolutely perfect!!!
How To Eat A Cupcake — February 6, 2010 @ 7:19 pm
That perfect party cake truly is perfect! Dorie's a genius!
Sarah — February 7, 2010 @ 12:30 am
Your cupcakes are lovely! I love this recipe, too. Though you pretty much can't go wrong with any of Dorie's recipes.
Tracey — February 7, 2010 @ 2:30 pm
Cute cupcakes Eliana! I'm with you on the love of citrus, though it's a fairly recent discovery for me. This is one of my favorite Dorie recipes too
Bridgett — February 9, 2010 @ 5:33 am
Oh wow, I am going to have to take out my Dorie book and check this recipe out. I do love lemon in desserts so this is right up my alley. What a gorgeous photo as well!
The Bite Me Kitchen — February 10, 2010 @ 5:44 pm
What a cute site you have!!!! These cupcakes look perfect
Jelli Bean — February 11, 2010 @ 2:56 pm
Ooo! These look great. Husband has hooked me on lemon desserts, and I can tell I would love sinking my teeth into this. We had a yummy lemon cake-topped semi-freddo last night for dinner, and I am still in the mood for more. Bring on the lemons!
Barbara GF — February 12, 2010 @ 12:11 am
I'm partial to citrus, too, Eliana. These lemony treats look divine. Great you got to meet and greet with Dorrie!
Ingrid — February 14, 2010 @ 11:43 pm
Dorie has it going on with her recipes! I love citrus too. Okay, to be honest I pretty much like anything that is not chocolaty.~ingrid
Doña Masita — February 15, 2010 @ 9:51 pm
Eliana! I'm so happy I found this blog! You also share a passion for latino culture and food! Your recipes are great, as well as your blog, is so cute!I leave you here a link to my website, is also for hispanic recipes, I hope you'd like it: http://www.donamasita.comBig hug for you,Doña Masita
lavienouveau — February 17, 2010 @ 11:02 pm
these sound/look sooo good!
Teanna — February 18, 2010 @ 3:15 pm
The perfect party cake is my favorite, favorite, favorite cake ever, and when I first saw it, I didn't think I would like it! WOW was I wrong! I make it at every occassion possible!