Lemon Dreams

I found the most delicious cupcake recipe in the Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Baking magazine - Lemon Dreams!

If you like lemon, I guarantee you will LOVE these delicate lemony treats. Here is the recipe for you.

Lemon Dreams

2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 cup buttermilk or sour milk (see tip below)
2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel (optional)
1 cup lemon curd
Lemon Cream Frosting
Finely shredded lemon peel (optional)

1. Line twenty to twenty-four 2-1/2 inch muffin cups with paper bake cups. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, beating until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk to butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Stir in finely shredded lemon peel if desired. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full.
3. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 15 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the centers comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pans; cool completely on wire racks.
4. Prepare Lemon Cream Frosting; set aside.
5. Spoon lemon curd into a decorating bag fitted with a large round or open star metal tip. Push tip into the top of each cupcake and force some of the lemon curd inside cupcakes.
   
6. Generously pipe or spread the frosting onto tops of cupcakes. If desired, garnish with additional finely shredded lemon peel.

Lemon Cream Frosting

• In large bowl, combine 6 ounces softened cream cheese, 1/3 cup softened butter, and 1/4 cup lemon curd. Beat with an electric mixer on medium-high until smooth. Gradually add 3 cups icing sugar, beating well. Beat in 1 Tablespoon milk. If necessary beat in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, to make of spreading consistency.

Tip: I used a zip-lock bag to pipe my frosting onto the cupcakes. I put the icing into the bag and then cut a tip off one of the corners to give me a nice size hole for piping the frosting. It worked really well!

Tip: If you don't want to buy buttermilk, made sour milk instead. Place 1 Tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice in a measuring cup. Add milk to make 1 cup total liquid; stir. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Enjoy your Lemon Dreams!