Hello, Summer!

Me and my sister, all graduated up!

I'm baaaaaack!!!

I know you all missed me terribly. If you didn't, than just fake it for me! You at least missed all my yummy treats, right?

So why have I abandoned you? You see, I had this little thing called "graduating" I had to work on. I know, lame, but my constant baking was kind of getting in the way. But now I'm all graduated up, and back in the kitchen! Guess I'm going to have to change my subtitle, I'm still a band geek, but I'm no music major anymore!

But you guys don't care, you want the food porn!

Graduation is great and all, but a degree is just a piece of paper. Graduation parties on the other hand have cupcakes. Cupcakes are better than lame paper, it's a proven fact. I was in a summer mood, and wanted something fruity and light. Yeah, oranges are a winter fruit, but they taste summery to me!

The cupcakes and frosting are both pretty straight forward, I also didn't have too much time to do anything super creative. I mostly just wanted to make something pretty!

And yes, I'm saying it one more time, zesting lemons sucks. And oranges. But at this point, I'm willing to admit, maybe it's not the zester, but user error!


Orange Cupcakes

2 3/4 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 tsp orange extract
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups milk
Orange food coloring (optional)

Combine flour and baking powder. In a separate bowl, beat butter about 30 seconds. Add sugar and orange extract, and beat until well combined. Add eggs one at a time, beating a full minute after each. Beat in dry ingredients and milk alternately. Beat in food coloring, if desired.
Fill lined muffin pan halfway with batter and bake at 375 for 20 minutes, or until done. Makes 25-30.


Classic Buttercream Frosting
Modified from Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook

6 tbs butter, softened
4 1/2 to 5 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp lemon zest, optional

Beat butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add about half of the powdered sugar, beating well. Beat in milk, vanilla, and lemon. Gradually beat in remaining sugar. Beat in additional milk or sugar if necessary to make the appropriate consistency.
I needed a batch and a half to frost my two dozen cupcakes, you should be able to do it in a batch if you don't pile them up so high!