As the story goes, for one of the Topped Chef challenges, the reality TV contestants must produce a signature wedding cocktail and dessert. Henri Stentzel chose
Lime Cupcakes with Lime Cream Cheese frosting. Here's how she did it:
Henri paused for a breath and seemed to assess her audience. Behind her, Peter pretended to fall asleep. Chef Adam looked positively catatonic. Henri smiled brightly and made eye contact with Toby.
“For the wedding cake, I’ve chosen to spotlight key lime cupcakes: They are light, they are lovely, they sidestep the saccharine sweetness and staleness of so many wedding desserts.”
Cupcakes. Now she’d caught my interest.
She opened a white bakery box, placed miniature cupcakes on three plates, and delivered them to us. I nibbled at mine—the cream cheese icing had flecks of lime zest in it, as did the pale green cake. Utterly delicious.
This began as a recipe from Buttersweet Bakery on Bon Appetit but Hayley tweaked it to be less sweet, with fewer ingredients, and no food coloring. They are so light and delicious and they freeze beautifully! (As I found out when I had the date wrong for a potluck party and arrived two weeks early. Can you imagine the look of surprise on the hostess's face?)
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. baking soda
1 stick butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 and ½ tablespoons fresh lime juice (2-3 limes, depending on size)*
1 tablespoon finely grated lime peel
¾ cup buttermilk

Icing Ingredients:
1 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened
1 stick of butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon finely grated lime peel (zest of about 2 limes, depending on size)
½ tsp. vanilla
*Note about squeezing limes or lemons: Did you know that the jaw is one of the strongest parts of the body? If you are willing to taste the tartness of the lime/lemon skins, the most effective way to squeeze juice out of a fruit is to cut it in half and chomp down—juice will release into bowl.
**I made these with regular limes, but I bet they'd be even better with Key limes!
In case you haven't already gotten your copy, TOPPED CHEF can be found wherever books are sold.
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I love lime. These will be delicious. I don't think there will be too much icing. A spoonful for the cupcakes, a spoonful for me, a spoonful for the cupcakes, a spoonful for me, a ....
ReplyDeleteThank you for the recipe.
LOL Ellicia--I think you will love them!
DeleteOh, these look heavenly. I'm drooling. Hosting our monthly "game" night with a group of friends and may have to make these for dessert!
ReplyDeleteYou would be very popular Peg--though we know you already are:)
DeleteYum, yum! Repeat, yum, yum! Lucy, delightful. Can't wait to read Topped Chef. It's in my TBR pile! Now that I'm back from the conference, I'm finding night time to read. Yay!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a great launch week!
Daryl / Avery
thanks so much Daryl and Avery! the best part of a conference is seeing all of you--and making new foodie mystery friends!
DeleteLOL! I like Ellicia's plan!
ReplyDeleteThese sound wonderful. Perfect for a summer party. And they look gorgeous, too.
Love that information about the jaw. Must keep that in mind!
~Krista
Yes a summer party! or a wedding...Hayley is supposed to be making 200 of these for her friend's wedding in MURDER WITH GANACHE. BUT I don't think it's going well:)--better get back and see
DeleteThese sound delicious. My father always said, "Anything a lemon can do, a lime can do better!"
ReplyDeleteI'm with your dad Libby!
DeleteI agree with Libby. Limes really do it for me, especially Key Limes, (which would have to be your specialty :)) I'm especially looking forward to baking up this recipe so I can enjoy it as I read TOPPED CHEF. Have a great release week, Lucy/Roberta!
ReplyDelete~ Cleo
thank you Cleo, big hugs to you!
Delete