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Key Lime Cupcakes Recipe

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These Key Lime Cupcakes offer a delightful burst of fresh citrus flavor with a moist texture and creamy key lime buttercream frosting, perfect for a refreshing dessert.

Ingredients

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Cupcakes

  • 1 1/2 cups flour, sifted
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp coarse salt
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp key lime juice
  • 1 tbsp key lime zest
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temp
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temp
  • 2 large egg whites, room temp

Key Lime Buttercream Frosting

  • 1 cup butter (unsalted), firm but not cold
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 tablespoon Key Lime zest (from the lime peel)
  • 5 tablespoons fresh Key Lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon milk
  • 2–3 drops of green food coloring, depending on how dark you want the green

Instructions

  1. Preheat and prepare: Preheat oven to 350°F. Use 12 cupcake liners to line cupcake pan and set aside.
  2. Mix dry ingredients: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together baking powder, salt, and flour.
  3. Mix wet ingredients: In a small mixing bowl, mix vanilla, milk, key lime zest, and 1 tbsp of key lime juice.
  4. Cream butter and sugar: Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment and medium high speed, cream butter until light and fluffy. Slowly add sugar and continue to beat until fluffy.
  5. Add eggs: Slow mixer to medium speed and add egg and egg whites slowly until just combined.
  6. Combine mixtures: Slow mixer to low speed and slowly add 1/2 flour mixture, then add milk mixture, until just combined. Slowly add remaining flour mixture until just combined. Scrape down sides with a spatula as needed.
  7. Bake cupcakes: Divide cupcake batter evenly into lined cupcake pan. Bake for 22-25 minutes until cupcake tops are dry to the touch.
  8. Cool and finish cupcakes: Remove cupcakes to cool on rack and poke top with toothpick. Brush remaining key lime juice on top of cupcakes. Top with Key Lime Frosting.
  9. Make frosting: Using the paddle attachment, beat together butter, food coloring, and salt on medium speed in the bowl of a stand mixer until light and fluffy.
  10. Add powdered sugar: Reduce electric mixer to low speed and slowly add powdered sugar, beat until well combined. Make sure you scrape down the sides of the bowl.
  11. Finish frosting: Add vanilla, Key Lime juice, and zest (don’t skip the addition of lime zest, it gives the frosting even more fresh lime flavor), mix until just blended, DO NOT OVERMIX.
  12. Frost cupcakes: Frosting should be dense and creamy, kind of like ice cream. Frost cupcakes as desired.

Notes

  • If you half the amount of frosting you put on them, you could easily frost 2 dozen cupcakes.
  • Use paper liners with coordinating colors to make cupcakes look even cuter.
  • For the frosting, do not overmix to keep it dense and creamy.
  • Fresh squeezed key limes are preferable for the best flavor, but regular limes can be used.

Find it online: https://yumfoodusa.com/key-lime-cupcakes-recipe/