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Cupcakes

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes
If there were ever a dessert that just screamed spring to me, it would be these cupcakes. Light and fluffy lemon cake dotted with fresh, juicy blueberries and topped with pillowy lemon cream cheese frosting. Everything from the flavors to the light, bright colors makes me think of a breezy, sunny spring day…pretty much the complete opposite of the gray and rainy days we have been having for nearly a month now. I suppose even if the weather doesn’t provide, I’ll take my sunshine anywhere I can get it, including in the form of cupcakes.

INGREDIENTS
For the cupcakes:
  • ¾ cup plus 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour, divided
  • ¾ cup cake flour
  • 1½ tsp. baking powder
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • 8 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp. lemon juice
  • ½ cup plus 2 tbsp. milk, at room temperature
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries
For the frosting: 
8 oz. cream cheese
5 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
Zest of 1 large lemon
Additional fresh blueberries, for garnish
DIRECTIONS
  1. Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners. In a medium bowl, combine the ¾ cup all-purpose flour, the cake flour, baking powder and salt; whisk together and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter, sugar and lemon zest. Beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla and lemon juice. With the mixer on low speed, mix in half of the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Blend in the milk. Mix in the remaining dry ingredients, beating just until incorporated.
  2. In a small bowl, toss the blueberries with the remaining 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour. Using a spatula gently fold the berries into the cake batter. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared liners, filling each about ¾ full. Bake 20-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pans 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  3. To make the frosting, combine the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on medium-high speed until well combined and smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Mix in the lemon juice and lemon zest. Gradually beat in the confectioners’ sugar until totally incorporated, increase the speed and then beat until smooth. Frost cooled cupcakes as desired. (I used a large, unlabeled star tip to frost these cupcakes.) Garnish with fresh blueberries.