Fresh Lavender and Honey Cupcakes

Last week I had the urge to put on my apron, turn on some music and whip up some cupcakes. I love when it is just me, my apron and mixer in the kitchen, it's my happy place. The week before I had visited the local herb festival with my mom, older sister and niece and picked up some fresh lavender. I knew I wanted to try to work it into a cupcake so I baked lavender and honey cupcakes and treated my coworkers.

 

Fresh Lavender and Honey Cupcakes

Recipe found here

Adapted from HuffPost Taste

Makes 12 cupcakes 

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

Purple icing coloring or red and blue food coloring (I used icing color gel and it worked great)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 tbs dried lavender buds

2/3 cups cold milk

For the frosting:

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

4 cups powdered sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

3 tbs honey, plus a little extra for drizzle

Directions 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the softened butter and sugar together. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each egg. Stir in vanilla and food coloring.  

In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Chop the dried lavender buds into fine, very small pieces. Stir into flour mixture. 

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Stir in the milk.

Scoop batter evenly into lined muffin tins. Bake for 18-24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of cupcake comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool in the tins for five minutes, then remove to wire rack to completely cool.

For the frosting:

In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese together. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing on low, until the frosting is smooth and creamy. Beat in the vanilla extract and honey.

Scoop frosting into a piping bag fitted with a 1M Wilton Tip.You can then pipe your icing on in a swirl design or to your liking. You can also ice your cupcakes with just a knife as well. 

Our house smelled so amazing as I pulled the cupcakes from the oven. The lavender gives off a relaxing and calming smell and mixed with the sugars and butter, it was to die for! I love this recipe because it is not your normal flavor and almost has more of a fancier taste. After trying one I said that I felt like I should be a spa enjoying it. Maybe wishful thinking but they are definitely a delicious treat with a calming aroma to them. Enjoy!