Bring in a little bit of sunshine with these Lemon Sunshine Cupcakes! Based on an old favorite cake, these cupcakes are filled with lemon curd and topped with a dreamy fluffy frosting. A sprinkling of coconut tops them off.
Course Dessert
Prep Time 30 minutesminutes
Cook Time 25 minutesminutes
Servings 36cupcakes
Calories 214kcal
Author Deborah Harroun
Ingredients
Cupcakes:
3cupsall-purpose flour
2teaspoonsbaking powder
1teaspoonsalt
2cupsgranulated sugar
1cupbuttersoftened
4eggs
1teaspooncoconut extract
1teaspoonvanilla extract
2cupsbuttermilk
Lemon Curd Filling:
3/4cupgranulated sugar
2tablespoonscornstarch
dash of salt
3/4cupwater
2slightly beaten egg yolks*
3tablespoonslemon juice
1tablespoonbutter
1teaspoonlemon zest
Fluffy Frosting:
4egg whites*at room temperature
1cupgranulated sugar
2/3cuplight corn syrup
1teaspoonvanilla extract
sweetenedflaked coconut
Instructions
To make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line 36 muffin tins with cupcake liners.
In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, beat the sugar and the butter with an electric mixer on medium speed. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the extracts. On low sped, alternately add the ⅓ of the flour mixture, ½ of the buttermilk, another ⅓ of the flour, the remaining buttermilk and then the remaining flour, beating just until blended.
Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about ⅔ full.
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes; remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.
To make the lemon curd: Combine the sugar, cornstarch and salt in a medium saucepan. Add the water, egg yolks and lemon juice and stir to combine. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until it thickens. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and the lemon zest. Transfer to a bowl and cover. Refrigerate until completely cooled.
To make the fluffy frosting: In a stand mixer, beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks.
Meanwhile, heat the sugar and corn syrup over medium heat. Heat until it comes to a full boil, then remove from the heat.
Once the egg whites are stiff, slowly pour in the hot sugar mixture. Do not scrape the sides of the bowl, or you will have sugar crystals in the frosting. Beat the frosting until it forms a shiny, fluffy marshmallow frosting, 5-7 minutes. Beat in the vanilla extract.
To assemble the cupcakes: Use a sharp knife to cut a cone out of the center of each cupcake, reserving the cut out piece. Fill the center with 1 teaspoon of lemon curd. Replace the cut out piece of the cupcake. Repeat with the remaining cupcakes.
Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes, then sprinkle with coconut.
Notes
*when separating the eggs, reserve the egg whites to use in the frosting.