Baby Shower Cupcakes - Lemon Buttermilk Vanilla Bean Filled with Raspberry Jam and topped with Cream Cheese Frosting

 

WOW. I has been a LONG time since I have blogged.  I have to say, it's hard to work hard and have a blog. When do I have time to cook? When do I have time to photograph before the sun goes down?  More importantly, when do I have time to actually EAT anything besides a nutritional bar. 

It makes me nervous for my busy season. Which is nine months long. Ten if playoffs are involved.

But I digress.

Let me introduce to you these magically wonderful cucpakes.  My cousin is having what is sure to be one of the most beautiful babies on the planet, and her twin sister, who has the other most beautiful baby on the planet, threw her a baby shower and asked if I could provide the desserts for 50 guests. 

I must admit, although I was excited, I was slightly nervous.  I knew that with my newly crazy schedule, fitting in baking would be difficult. But I love these two girls like they were my own sisters and I would slave through endless sleepless nights to give them the cupcakes of their dreams.

I know I'm being dramatic, but hey, that's me.

Unfortunately, the week before, I also had to make a wedding cake to feed 200 people.  In my apartment in Manhattan. With a stove that doesn't fit a pan larger than 13". Let's just say that it was the most traumatic day of my life.  Tears were shed. Nervous breakdowns were had. Boyfriends were yelled at. And red velvet cake still stains the walls of the kitchen. But it all worked out in the end, and I think I made a pretty decent wedding cake.

But the Cake Boss I am not.

Needless to say, I was not thrilled about baking. Ever again. Until the next day when my cousin told me the number would now be closer to 65 people.

Kill me now.

As a side note, I know if my cousin Desi reads this blog, she will be worried for my well-being and stress levels.  Desi, I love you, and you know me. I stress over everything.  It's a DiMicco trait.

Back to the post. Normally, I would have prepared my recipes and done my shopping weeks before, but I was delaying. I didn't have it in me.  Friday night, I finally pulled it together, chose my recipes, went shopping, and truged into my kitchen to prepare. At 10 pm, I finally started baking. I baked 100 cookies and called it a night. The next morning, at 6:00 am sharp, I baked off 75 cupcakes.

 

The worst part of it all?  Packing it all up and trudging to my car, parked what seemed like miles away (it was 3 blocks) and drove the hour drive to Long Island.

The cupcakes looked pretty, but it wasn't until I set them up in the cute little cupcake stands, sprinkled them with purple and green edible decorations, and topped them with rattles held up by clothespins (another great idea by my cousin), and surrounded them with lime cookies sprinkled with purple and green sprinkles that I was truly excited.  The vibrant purple and green tops popped against the bright yellow setting.

How was the taste? Well, I'm not sure. After two solid weeks of large baking projects, I could't stomach anymore frosting.  But people raved about them. So I took a small bite. I LOVED these cupakes. The sunny lemon flavor really shined through in the tender cake and the raspberry jam added a wonderfully cool and smooth texture and sweet tart flavor. And of course, no one can go wrong with cream cheese icing.

Of course, there were also cocoa cupcakes topped with a salted caramel buttercream, which I'll post about tomorrow.

I'm back.  Miss me? :)

Ooh. Wow. I think that's the first time I've used a "smiley face" in my posts. Don't know if I'll do that again.

Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Filling and Cream Cheese Frosting - adapted from Cheeky Kitchen

Makes 18 cupcakes

1 pound(s) of butter (2 lbs)

4 eggs (8 eggs)

Zest of 1 lemon

1 vanilla bean, seeded

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 cup(s) of flour

3/4 cup(s) of buttermilk

Frosting 
12 ounces cold cream cheese 
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) butter, firm but not cold 
1/4 teaspoon salt 
1 1/2 pounds (1 1/2 boxes) powdered sugar, sifted 
1 teaspoon vanilla

In a large bowl, cream together 2 sticks of butter, eggs, and the remaining granulated sugar until very light a fluffy.

To the creamed mixture, add lemon zest, vanilla bean seeds (discard pod), salt, baking powder, flour and buttermilk.

Beat batter together just until well mixed. Be careful to not overbeat the mixture!

Spoon batter into a standard-sized muffin tin which has been lined with paper cupcake liners

Bake cupcakes in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes, or just until the centers have set and spring back to the light touch.

Frosting 

Combine butter, salt, and cream cheese in mixer and beat on medium speed 2-3 minutes. 

Add sugar until just incorporated. Don’t over mix. It should be thick but not fluffy. 

Add vanilla. If necessary, add milk to thin.

 

Comments

[Lori @ RecipeGirl]

They're darling. Good job w/ these :)

[Jen]

It is my busy time at work too. Even on the longest days of the year, I haven't managed to have dinner in daylight. Your cupcakes are gorgeous! Good luck to your cousin!

[Desiree]

I am the luckiest cousin alive. These were amazing and You are amazing. I love you soooo much and so does Tina. I am crying right now. I know you were stressed over the wedding cake...but this event shows how truly talented and dedicated you are. It is obvious everyone loves this blog and recipes. that day everyone looooved the cupcakes so much they were jacked and Anwar was too late to get it..haha. But we thank and love you again u r awesome!

[Eliana]

I'm sure they were delicious. They look awesome.

[shelly (cookies and cups)]

Those cupcakes are the cutest! Great job!

[Mike]

What a great comeback! Beautiful cupcakes and a wonderful cousin to boot! Very impressed!

[Carol Peterman]

What a massive undertaking and spectacular result! Thanks for taking time to share. It's amazing how much time putting a blog post together can take.

[SkippyMom]

I would love to make these for my daughter's graduation which is in three days - any hint on how to get the rasberry filling inside? I am thinking half batter, a dollop of rasberry, then the other half of batter - bake, ice and sprinkle?

Yes? Would love the complete recipe - have never made a filled cupcake.

Thanks so much! :D

[Ashley]

Welcome back! These look amazing.

[Health Insurance]

Wow, this is awesome it really cute I think many Mom's will like this cup cake very colourful.

[Erica]

Those cupcakes looks beautiful and delicious!

[Rachel (S[d]OC)]

Those look wonderful. Congrats on your new second cousin! Your cousin is lucky to have someone baking like this for her (after you baked a WEDDING CAKE?)

Where does the raspberry filling fit in with this? Do you use jam? Do you add it in the batter before baking? Do you squeeze it in with a pastry bag afterward? Inquiring minds wanna know.

[Sirenane]

What a great welcome back recipe!! I WILL make these!! But as the Duo Dishes commented.. can you clarify how many eggs and how much butter?? :-D Thanks for taking the time to share and congrats to your cousin!

[Simply Life]

Those cupcakes look so good!

[Tangled Noodle]

Seriously - you are a Wonder Woman! I don't have anything close to the schedule you have and I still can't find the time to blog and occasionally make something for dinner that doesn't involve a can of diced tomatoes. But then baking for weddings and baby showers? I'm sorry to hear about the stress levels but I must say, you work beautifully under pressure! These cupcakes are adorable and I'm sure every bit as delicious as everyone says. If it's not too much trouble, may I have a dozen (or two)?

[Fortheloveofyum.wordpress.com]

You have some real strength in you to do all that baking, I don't think I could handle it!

Lovely cupcakes, so pretty.

[Chris H]

making my mouth water...as always. Seriously, I might go cook these up right now at 1:30 am.

[Nikki (Pennies on a Platter)]

Wow! I can't believe with such a busy schedule you got all this done! And, to stay up late then get up early? Props to you! :)

[ugg 5819]

Put your heart and soul into the things what you do that you will feel more easy than before. This is my idea that carry out many years ago.

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