Key Lime Pie Cupcakes

So here it is friends, the long awaited and much requested Key Lime Pie Cupcake recipe! Just in time for all of the  green festivities that St. Patrick’s Day brings us next month.

This tart and tangy, sweet and sassy cupcake certainly packs a punch. It is a guaranteed hit with anyone who loves Key Lime Pie as much as I do….which admittedly, is too much! 🙂

Enjoy!

Key Lime Cupcake

Makes 24 Cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients:

• 6 cups cake flour sifted
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 cups butter or margarine, softened
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 8 egg whites
• 1 Lime
• 3 tbs of Lime Jello Mix (dry)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Fill Cupcake pan with liners
2. Sift together flour and baking powder. Set aside.
3. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Set aside.
4. Beat egg whites with hand mixer until stiff, but not dry. Set aside.
5. With your stand mixer at slow speed, add flour mixture to butter mixture, alternately with milk. Beat well after each addition.
6. Add in 3 tbs of dry Lime Jello mix – mix well to incorporate
7. Beat in 1/3 cup of lime juice
8. Beat in vanilla extract.
9. Gently fold egg whites into batter.
10. Pour batter into prepared pans.
11. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until tops are lightly browned and toothpick comes out clean.

 

Whip Cream Frosting

• 1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups heavy cream

Combine the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract in the bowl of your stand mixer. Use the whisk attachment and mix on medium speed until smooth.

While the mixture is still whipping, slowly pour in the heavy cream.

Stop and scrape the bottom of the bowl a couple of times while you continue.

Continue mixing until the frosting can hold a firm peak. Do not over beat though.

Decorations:

• The zest of one lime
• 15 graham crackers, crushed
• Lime green sanding sugar

Once your cupcakes have cooled and your frosting is ready – pipe frosting onto each cupcake. Place the graham cracker crumbles on a plate and roll the edge of the cupcake in the crumbs. Sprinkle each cupcake with lime zest. Finish with a few lime green sugar sprinkles.

There you  have it! Fun, festive, and delicious!!  Until next time, Stay Sweet!

Xo, Jill

Breakfast of Champions

Coffee and Donut Cupcakes!

I’m just gonna cut to the chase here, I found a recipe for a breakfast cupcake that doesnt include bacon!! Its a take on donuts and coffee, and it looks so yummy! I found it on a Cupcakeblog.com (an overall amazing site for all things cupcakes!) So, without further ado, here is the recipe for “Coffee and Donut” cupcakes. These will deffinitely be a hit in the office!

Note: These cupcakes will take a while to make, but they will be sooooo worth it! For the full recipe and blog entry go to: http://cupcakeblog.com/?p=86

ENJOY!!

Coffee Cupcakes
19 regular cupcakes / 350 degree oven

3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
2 cups + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon dark roast coffee grounds
1/2 cup strong brewed, dark roast coffee
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons milk

1. Beat butter on high until soft, about 30 seconds.
2. Add sugar. Beat on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
3. Add eggs one at a time, beating until incorporated.
4. Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and coffee grounds in a bowl.
5. Measure out coffee and milk together.
6. Add about a fourth of the flour to the butter/sugar mixture and beat to combine.
7. Add about one third the coffee/milk mixture and beat until combined.
8. Repeat above, alternating flour and coffee and ending with the flour mixture.
9. Scoop into cupcake papers about two-thirds to three-quarters full (depending on whether you want flat or domed cupcakes. Note that these cupcakes will shrink slightly when they cool).
10. Bake for 22-25 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean.

Tip: Be careful when adding the coffee/milk mixture to the batter. If you add it too quickly the mixture will look curdled. Add small amounts and beat well to incorporate.

Whipped Cream

3/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons sugar

1. Whisk cream on high speed until soft peaks form.
2. Add sugar (more or less depending on your taste) and whip until thick.

Doughnuts

9 ounces whole milk
1/4 ounce envelope active dry yeast
17-1/2 ounces white bread flour (not all-purpose)
3 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
1-1/2 ounces superfine sugar
2 teaspoons fine-grain salt
2 large eggs
2 cups peanut oil
superfine sugar for dusting

1. Warm milk over low heat until it is ay body temperature. It should feel neither warm nor cold when you touch it.
2. Measure the flour into your mixer’s bowl. Rub in the yeast with your fingertips until it disappears in the flour.
3. Rub in the butter until its a sandy texture. Rub in the sugar and salt.
4. Using the dough hook attachment, turn the mixer onto the lowest speed. Add the eggs and milk. Mix for 2 minutes.
5. Turn up to medium speed and mix for 6-7 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
6. Gently remove the dough from the bowl with the help of a plastic bowl scraperonto a lightly floured surface. Form into a ball. Place into a lightly floured bowl and cover with a lint-free towel and set in draft-free spot to rise for 1 hour.
7. Gently remove the dough from the bowl with the help of a plastic bowl scraper onto a lightly floured surface. Cut into two equal portions with your scraper. Gently roll out to about 1/2 inch thick, turning and using flour only as needed.
8. Cut out doughnuts and their holes using a circular cutter and a large pastry tip, respectively.
9. Set on a lightly oiled and floured baking pan with sufficient space between each. Cover with a lint-free towel and set in draft-free spot to double in size or for 45 minutes.
10. Heat the peanut oil in a high-sided, 8″ diameter pan to 350 degrees. Using a slotted spoon gently add about 5 doughnuts to the oil. Allow them to fry on one side until golden, about 45 seconds. Flip and repeat on the other side. Remove doughnuts onto a sheet pan covered in paper towels to drain. Continue in the same fashion with remaining doughnuts.
11. Roll drained doughnuts in the sugar. Eat.