Lemon Poppyseed Cupcakes Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with cupcake or muffin cases. Mix the flour, sugar, lemon zest and poppy seeds together in a large mixing bowl. Beat the eggs into the yogurt, then tip this into the dry ingredients with the melted butter. Mix together with a wooden spoon or whisk until lump-free, then divide between the cases. Bake for 20-22 mins until a skewer poked in comes out clean - the cakes will be quite pale on top still. Cool for 5 mins in the tin, then carefully lift onto a wire rack to finish cooling.
• To ice, beat the softened butter until really soft in a large bowl, then gradually beat in the icing sugar and lemon juice. Stir in enough food colouring for a pale lemon colour, then spoon the icing into a piping bag with a large star nozzle.
• Ice one cake at a time, holding the piping bag almost upright with the nozzle about 1cm from the surface of the cake. Pipe one spiral of icing around the edge, then pause to break the flow before moving the nozzle towards the centre slightly and piping a second, smaller spiral that continues until there are no gaps in the centre. Slightly 'dot' the nozzle into the icing as you stop squeezing to finish neatly. Repeat to cover all the cakes, then top with sugar decorations or scatter with sprinkles.

Steps:

• LEMON STRIPS: Make up to two days and at least one day before.Using a pairing knife, carefully cut wide slices of rind from the lemon. Trim the white pith from the underside of the slices. Cut the lemon rinds into 24 thin strips. Curl each strip around your finger, brush with egg white, and dust liberally with sugar. Set the sugared strips on a clean baking sheet and place in a warm, dry spot overnight. Or place the sheet in a preheated 200 degree F oven for 3-4 hours, until dry.
• CAKE: Combine the cake and pudding mixes in a large bowl, stirring to blend. Add the oil, eggs, water and lemon juice, stirring after each addition. Fold in the lemon zest and poppy seeds until just blended. Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared cupcake tins, about 3/4 full. Bake on the middle oven rack until the tops of the cupcakes spring back to the touch and are not too golden; about 15 minutes. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, and then allow to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting or decorating.
• FROSTING: Make while the cakes are cooling or the morning of the shower.Using a wooden spoon, cream the butter in a large bowl, Add the remaining ingredients, and continue creaming until the frosting is well blended and fluffy. Frost the cupcakes with a small spatula and decorate with the candied lemon strips.

Steps:

• With oven rack in center of oven, pre-heat oven to 350°F Line a twelve 2 1/2-inch muffin pan with paper liners and set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl on medium speed beat margarine and oil together until well combined. Slowly add granulated sugar; beat until light and creamy. Add one large egg, then egg white, combining well after each addition. Blend in lemon zest.
• Fold flour mixture and buttermilk alternately into egg mixture. Begin and end with the flour mixture. Stir in poppy seeds.
• Spoon batter into prepared muffin pan. Bake cupcakes until golden brown approximately 20 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. When cool enough to handle remove from pans and finish cooling on a wire rack. These cupcakes can also be made ahead. Cool and wrap cupcakes well in plastic wrap, place in resealable plastic storage/freezer bags and freeze up to 1 month. Before adding lemon glaze,thaw cupcakes.
• Lemon glaze: In a small mixing bowl ombine confectioners' sugar and lemon juice and stir until smooth. Drizzle or spread over cooled cupcakes.