Lemon Lime Meringue Cupcakes
I wish I could tell you I am sitting right here enjoying one of these lemon lime cupcakes as I type my post but truth is I am trying to write in a room where English and French are mingling with hand gestures and strange sounds, and my brain is not sure this post is going to make sense by the time you read it. I tried isolation, taking one cupcake to the office room, sitting down at the computer with a cup of tea but I keep being interrupted because it seems that nobody understand my house, kitchen and pantry set-ups, hmmmm….really?….and I thought I was Ol' Deat Martha!! Anyways…back to the cupcakes.
Laurie from Quirkie Cupcake posted a Cupcake Hero Event focused on lime and as a new September Daring Bakers I wanted to give her full support, except that I am late….I can’t lie…It’s funny how I can think so much (three weeks) that it almost seems real, like I already made it, and then I wake up the morning of the deadline to realize that it was all in my head, a nice pretty dream, full of lemon and lime and soft meringue…
We have a saying in French that goes like this: "Il n’a pas invente la poudre" translating as "he surely did not event gunpowder", which is pretty much what I did when I made these the other day. They had been on my "must try" list for a long time and this month I finally had the opportunity to play around with them and my blow torch. I used a recipe from one of my favorite blogs, Cupcake Bakeshop. Cheryl’s site is not only amazing to look at but I admire her adventurous spirit when it comes to pairing ingredients and flavors, creating recipes and styling them with the most relevant details. I fell in love with her meringue cupcakes ever since they jumped at me through the screen. I followed one of her recipes for the cupcakes adapting it to fit Laurie’s challenge, except I can’t remember which one as I scribbled it in my blue notepad one day I was in a hurry. I used lime oil as an added boost of flavor. The lime curd inside is my usual foolproof recipe that I make time and time again and probably make you guys sick ad tired of it….but if it ain’t broken why fix it? As for the meringue, well, if you have a blow torch it does make the job easier. I have not tried the broiler in my oven for these so far, but if you do, please let me know the outcome.
Lemon Lime Meringue Cupcakes:
Makes 12
Cupcakes:
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons lime oil
½ cup buttermilk
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
zest of one lime
In the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well in between each addition. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add flour mixture and milk alternatively to the butter/eggs mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Add the lime juice and zest. Fill cupcake tins 2/3 full. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean.
Lemon Curd:
grated zest of 2
1/2 cup strained lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
Combine the zest, sugar, juice in a saucepan, and bring to a simmer. In a small bowl, beat the eggs until light.Beat some of the lemon mixture into the eggs to temper. Scrape the mixture back into the saucepan and cook stirring constantly until it thickens up, about 5 minutes. Remove the curd from the heat, let cool completely.
Lime Meringue Frosting:
1 cup egg whites
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. lime juice
Combine egg whites and sugar into the mixing bowl of your stand mixer and set over a water bath. Whisk by hand for a few minutes until the sugar is dissolved or preferably until the mixture reaches 110F . Transfer bowl to electric mixer, beat on medium speed for 10 minutes. Add lime juice Beat on high speed until stiff glossy peaks form, about 2 to 5 minutes more.
To fill the cupcakes: with a sharp knife cut a small hole in the cupcake, not cutting all the through. Fill the cavity with the lemon curd, and put the top back on. Spread the meringue and brown with a blow torch.
Comments
Unknown October 3, 2007 um 3:12 am
these look so wonderful, i want one now!!! your peaks are perfect
Abby October 3, 2007 um 4:26 am
I absolutely love the effect of the meringue icing on your cupcakes. SO pretty!
(Also, did you get my email?)
Susan @ SGCC October 3, 2007 um 4:37 am
What elegant looking little cupcakes! I’ll bet they taste as good as they look.
eatme_delicious October 3, 2007 um 4:43 am
Those look really beautiful!
Casey October 3, 2007 um 4:44 am
I just checked my wallet and found I have $71.00 and change –every penny of which I would hand over to you immediately if you would bring me one of those cupcakes RIGHT NOW. They are adorable–and I know they taste terrific.
Pille October 3, 2007 um 5:34 am
I like the 'normal' version of lemon/lime meringue pie, but mini cupcake version looks even more charming. Thanks for a great idea!!
Anh October 3, 2007 um 5:47 am
Lovely cupcakes! You have set a high standard for this type of cupcake with meringue on top!
barbichounette October 3, 2007 um 6:00 am
Superbe !!!
Bizzzzzzzzz
Barbichounette
LILIBOX October 3, 2007 um 6:07 am
élégant et charmant … parfait !
Rosa's Yummy Yums October 3, 2007 um 7:08 am
Your cupcakes are to die for and ever so beautiful!!! I love Lemon Meringue Pies, so that cupcake version really makes me drool…
Cheers,
Rosa
MyKitchenInHalfCups October 3, 2007 um 7:12 am
Those look killer good but then I’m a push over for most any curd!
"Il n’a pas invente la poudre" oh how I can relate to that one. And get tired of lime curd, very unlikely! I still want to play with my torch on meringue.
Anonymous October 3, 2007 um 7:37 am
Magnifiques!
Anonymous October 3, 2007 um 8:11 am
they look so pretty ! they seem to be really DELICIOUS !! I keep your recipe to make them quickly !!
Mimmi October 3, 2007 um 11:04 am
I’m afraid I cannot say anything that wasn’t already written. So, just to resume:
wonderful,pretty,elegant,beautiful,adorable,charming,lovely, superbe,élégant,killer good,delicious.
Have a nice day!
Mik
Nora B. October 3, 2007 um 12:41 pm
Such perfect meringue cupcakes! A blow torch is on my wish-list. Then I can have lots of fun with it 🙂
Mallow October 3, 2007 um 1:00 pm
Beautiful!
Anonymous October 3, 2007 um 1:14 pm
oooh…that lemon curd looks so yummy inside those cupcakes. I think I know now why my hubby retreated to his computer when his mom was here. He got tired of the said gestures and strange sounds between me and his mom as we tried to communicate – he he….
Finla October 3, 2007 um 2:01 pm
They looks super delicious.
Do you think i can skip the lemon oil?
I don’t have a blow torch so if i do this cup cake it will be under the broiler.
I will let you know then.
Deborah October 3, 2007 um 3:21 pm
I love the idea of a meringue cupcake!! And bring on all of the curd – I’ll never get sick of it!!
Cookie baker Lynn October 3, 2007 um 3:35 pm
Beautimoose! (as my mother would say). I know what you mean about feeling scattered when blogging. When I have people talking around me and asking questions I can’t write worth beans.
Aimée October 3, 2007 um 3:56 pm
So beautiful, Helen! They look perfectly moist and utterly sublime. I am among the privileged who own a blow torch…
Babycakes October 3, 2007 um 4:18 pm
Je suis en train de saliver devant mon écran… trop injuste.
My first comment as I’ve discovered your blog recently, but I really love it, it always looks so yummy and not (too) difficult to bake at home when you know how to cook a bit.
Merci pour tous ces postes si intéressants et aguichants (si si je vous promets!!)
Anonymous October 3, 2007 um 6:19 pm
Helen, should I buy a blow torch? Ever since I saw yours and Cheryl’s beautiful examples I have been coveting one! =)
Anonymous October 3, 2007 um 7:01 pm
Jeez!! This is so creative and amazing, I don’t even know what to say besides good job, and I want one!
Anonymous October 3, 2007 um 7:08 pm
Could you come move next door to me?
Brilynn October 3, 2007 um 11:35 pm
Those are so pretty and so clever!
Belinda October 3, 2007 um 11:35 pm
Helene! These look delectable, with the perfect meringue tops, and the lime curd filling. You ALWAYS make the most delightful confections. 🙂
Peabody October 3, 2007 um 11:36 pm
Love those!
Meryl October 3, 2007 um 11:52 pm
These look great! I have a question. For the Lemon Curd, it says:
"-grated zest of 2
-strained lemon juice"
I assume the grated zest is from 2 lemons, but what about the lemon juice? Is this also from the same two lemons or is it a specific amount?
Thanks.
Jenny October 4, 2007 um 1:54 am
Do you think you could have one of those delivered to me for breakfast tomorrow? Just what I’d need on my way out the door for swim practice!
Helene October 4, 2007 um 2:07 am
Happy Cook: you can skip the lime oil, just use lime juice instead. Let me know how they turn out with the broiler!
Meryl: thanks for pointing that out, I corrected it.
monica October 4, 2007 um 2:45 am
the meringue is so pretty! i bet those were a treat. they are quite similar to the cupcakes i’m baking for a friend’s housewarming party this weekend…margarita cupcakes! oh my it’s been ages since i’ve made cupcakes!
Unknown October 4, 2007 um 5:32 am
Oh my, you have to submit this to the cupcake round-up as well! It’s just gorgeous!
Meeta K. Wolff October 4, 2007 um 7:01 am
Yes these look truly delicious. that meringue looks good to lick off! LOL! Hope you are having fun with your parents. Say hi to them from me!
cupcaketastic October 4, 2007 um 10:10 pm
These look so good, I love citrus meringue pies, and these look too good, its citrus season here at the moment, I feel some baking coming on.
Robyn October 4, 2007 um 10:31 pm
Those look sooooo good! Another of your recipes to try!
Oh for the love of food! October 5, 2007 um 12:38 am
What magnificent looking meringue cupcakes, Helen! I have a similar cupcake recipe that I posted awhile back- it’s called Lemon Meringue Babycakes (I think!) from Fabulous author Julie Le Clerc’s 'Little Cafe Cakes'. Looking at yours are giving me serious cravings, Helen!
Finla October 5, 2007 um 2:10 pm
Thankx for the info. I will try it one of tgese days andtell u about it.
How To Eat A Cupcake October 9, 2007 um 12:32 am
wow momma those looks GREAT!
Amy October 13, 2007 um 5:33 am
These cupcakes are beautiful! Love the curd filling inside! Yummy!
Parisbreakfasts October 15, 2007 um 9:28 am
O M G !
What a wonderful idea Helene!!
Random Boy November 22, 2007 um 5:04 am
I came across your website when searching for new pie recipes to try for Thanksgiving this year. My youngest son had requested Lemon Lime Pie. When I saw your cupcakes I knew I had to try them.
They are simply delicious! I greatly enjoyed them and will be making them again. Thanks!
Anonymous October 31, 2008 um 8:32 pm
Delicieux !
Jessica @ Jessiker Bakes June 24, 2010 um 1:56 pm
beautiful! I saw this and bookmarked! I love lemons and the addition of lime takes the cake! (…er cupcake)