Cupcakes & Fire Fighters

Lavender Creme Filled Cupcakes
with Citrus Cream Cheese Frosting

Makes about 24 cupcakes / 350 degree oven

1 stick butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup whole milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 large egg whites

1. soften butter in the mixer on high speed
(its best if the butter has just been sitting out for a few minutes)
2. drizzle the sugar in with the butter and beat until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes
(if it doesn't look right to you, its ok. once everything is added, it'll look great)
3. sift flour, baking powder, and salt together

4. measure out milk and then add in the vanilla

5. add the flour mixture and milk mixture to the butter/sugar in 3 parts alternating between flour and milk and beating well after each addition


6. set aside incorporated mixture

7. in a clean mixer bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form


Do NOT do it this way with a whisk. It won't work because it would take a million years. Use an electric beater.

8. fold egg whites into cake batter until incorporated


9. scoop batter into the prepared cupcake pans
(about 1/2 an inch from the top of the paper)

10. bake in the 350 degree oven for approximately 20 minutes or until just golden.

TADA!! :D

Lavender Cream

2 cups heavy cream


1/2 cup granulated sugar


1 cup water


2 tablespoons lavender flowers

1. add sugar and water to a small saucepan set over medium high heat


2. heat the mixture until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon


3. stir in lavender (mine came from my own herb garden, hells ya!) and let the mixture sit over the heat, undisturbed for 3 minutes
 (it smells amazing)

4. remove from heat, strain into a small bowl, and set in a second bowl of ice to cool


5. meanwhile add heavy cream to the bowl of an electric mixer and beat with the whip attachment until soft peaks form


6. once the sugar mixture is relatively cool to the touch (it can be slightly warm) drizzle into the cream while beating on medium high


7. continue to beat on high until firm peaks form

Citrus Cream Cheese Frosting

1 stick butter


2 8oz packages of cream cheese


1 teaspoon mixed citrus zest (from lemons, limes, oranges, whatever citrus you have)


2 teaspoons citrus juice (same as above)


4 cups confectioner’s sugar


3-4 drops of purple food coloring

1. soften butter in the mixer on high speed


2. add cream cheese and beat until combined


3. sift confectioner’s sugar


4. add about half of the confectioner’s sugar and citrus juice and zest (I chose orange) to the butter/cream cheese mixture and beat on high speed to combine


5. add remaining confectioner’s sugar in stages until desired consistency and sweetness is achieved


6. add purple food coloring and mix until consistent color is achieved

Cupcake Assembly
:

1. using a melon baller, scoop out a bit of the cooled cupcakes


Scoop Scoop Scoop....

2. using a small spoon, fill each cavity with lavender cream
(pic below)

3. trim off some of the meat of the scooped out cupcake and place back over the cavity


Just pop these in your mouth as you go for a quick nom. haha

4. pipe cream cheese frosting over the top


5. sprinkle lightly with dried citrus zest

And voila! You've just made gourmet cupcakes!! :)

Good: They tasted AMAZING and everyone who tried one was very impressed and their taste buds were happy. :)

Bad: I FORGOT to add the purple food coloring, but the zest from the orange made it look great still. And next time I think I'll use a grapefruit because it has a more delicate flavor that I think would really compliment the lavender. It would also leave me with more zest to sprinkle on top of the cupcakes.

This is Aaron from the QC Fire Department! He's a very friendly guy. haha He gave me and my little sister (who accompanied me and took the photos) a private tour of the station. I wanted to try on the fireman's gear sooo bad. I know you'll all be proud to know that I resisted temptation though.

Me and the fire guys down at QCFD! God bless them for posing for this picture. Men holding cupcakes are secure. Haha and you know what I mean by that. I've decided that whenever I bake, I'll always bring some down to the fire station. Its always best to bake for people that appreciate it. :)

SO let me know what you think! And give me feedback! I eat it up like chocolate cake.. Maybe ideas for other things to bring the fire station?