Fancy Cupcakes :: Raspberry with Lemon Curd

These cupcakes are guaranteed to impress your friends and family, but they so easy to make it's gross, and there are SO many variations you could make!

Ingredients:

Cupcakes

1 box of white cake mix + whatever the box says you need to make it

1 1/2 c. frozen and thawed or fresh raspberries (see variations below)

Lemon Curd

6 egg yolks

3/4 c. sugar

Juice of 5 large lemons (This can be adjusted along with the sugar for tartness)

Metal bowl & saucepan or double boiler

Directions:

1.  Prepare the cupcake batter as directed on the box.  You definitely want to use a white cake mix, the color of the berries is so pretty against the white.

2.  Rinse raspberries if using frozen.  

3.  Once the batter has been totally mixed, carefully fold in your raspberries.  You may see some color go into the batter, it's ok.  This happened on mine and I had no pink cupcakes!

4.  Bake as directed on the box.  

5.  Remove cupcakes from the oven and let them cool completely.  

6.  Once they are cooled, use a paring knife or an apple corer to remove a hole from the center of each cupcake, being careful not to go all the way through the bottom:

7.  Using a teaspoon, fill each hole with the lemon curd just to the top so that it's even with the rest of the cupcake.

8.  Frost as usual with the frosting of your choice!  I used a basic cream cheese frosting on mine and topped them with a strawberry. 

For the lemon curd: 

1.  Heat up about an inch of water to simmering/boiling in a saucepan that your metal bowl will fit in.

2.  Whisk yolks and sugar together in a metal bowl (it must. be. metal--you will be placing it over the saucepan with water to indirectly heat the yolks, sugar and lemon juice.)

3.  Add the lemon juice to your yolks and sugar and place metal bowl on top of sauce pan and get your whisking arm ready!

4.  Whisk/stir for about 8-10 minutes (depends on heat) or until curd begins to thicken and set.  

5.  Remove from heat, cover curd with saran wrap and place in fridge for later.

Variations:

Strawberries with lemon curd

Blueberries with lemon or orange curd

Mixed berries with lemon curd

These are such a perfect summer cupcake, I can't even tell you!  They taste sweet and dessert-like, but also refreshing and light at the same time. Enjoy! 

PS--Don't forget to come back on Thursday for a HUGE giveaway all about booze, beer, and wine!