Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Light summer time treat....

Since we had been gone for some time, I didn't have any treats on hand or in the freezer. I wanted to bake some treats that were somewhat light, summery and a bit different.

Lemon Angel Food Cupcakes are individual tender cakes that are light as air with a luscious buttery lemon icing. These are made pretty much the same way as other angel food cakes, but are baked in muffin papers instead of a tube pan. The addition of fresh lemon zest in the batter brightens up the delicate flavor and takes these from ho-hum to oh-yum!

You may notice that when you fill the papers that it seems to be overfilled some - the original recipe called for 16 servings, but I think 12 is a better fit. I also noticed that instead of spreading out like some cupcakes or muffins might do, mine baked straight up like a souffle and slightly deflated as they cooled. While a large cake is always nice, these smaller sized cupcakes are just the right size for a treat at a summer picnic or barbeque. The icing is pretty sweet and I think I would try to cut the sweetness with a dash of popcorn salt next time. I use that salt because it dissolves better and won't leave the frosting grainy. I garnished these with some edible flowers.

12 comments:

  1. You and I are on the same wave length with our cooking these days. I made these cupcakes this weekend and posted about them on the Paper Palate today. I also determined yesterday that I was making the mac and cheese in the new cooking light mag, you must have gotten yours before me.
    I guess great minds think alike.

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  2. mmmmmmmmm! I can't wait to make these.

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  3. Your cupcakes are very cute! I could just eat one now...

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  4. those are so pretty! and anything with lemon is in my top 5 favourite. i will have to try these someday, edible flowers are pretty expensive here but they obviously add something special :)

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  5. Hey those edible flower looks like orchid which is our national flower...where did you get them in America?

    Very nice and yummy - I'm drooling already :P

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  6. These are so light and delicious looking. I like how you decorated it with the flower. I am going to bookmark this!

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  7. very pretty - I'm sure they're as tasty as they look.

    Thanks for sharing.

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  8. Oh wow - these look fab! You should hop over to The Bakingsheet and enter this photo in "Does My Blog Look Good In This?" Cause it sure does!

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  9. Those are just gorgeous! I love cupcakes decorated with flowers!

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  10. Heather - I guess! I'll have to go look at them!

    Linda - Yeah! They didn't seem to last long!

    Rosa - Thank you! I wish I could have sent one to you!

    Catesa - I love our lemon tree!

    Shionge - I found them in a local upscale market

    Camera - Let mne know if you try them out!

    Ruth - Thanks!

    Di's Kitchen - I may just have to do that, thanks for bringing it to my attention!

    Ivonne - Thank you!

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  11. I love cupcakes, and I love lemony desserts, but I've never made lemony cupcakes. Perhaps it's time to remedy that! These look just wonderful!

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