Giant Cupcake

The decorations for this lemon-flavored dessert take on a patriotic theme that could just as easily be altered to any holiday of your choice.

from Family Circle

Giant Cupcake
Servings: 16 Prep 15 mins Bake 325°F 1 hr

Ingredients

Cake:
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup poppy seeds
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened (save other half for frosting)
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons fresh grated lemon zest
Glaze:
  • 3 cups confectioners sugar
  • 4 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 drops blue food coloring
Frosting:
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2 cups confectioners sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Make It

1. Heat oven to 325 degree F. Grease and flour giant cupcake pan (find it here: familycircle.com/pan) and set aside.

Cake:

2. Whisk together flour, poppy seeds, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.

3. Beat butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Add granulated sugar and beat on medium until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each until well combined.

4. Combine the buttermilk, lemon juice and zest in a liquid measuring cup. Add the flour mixture, alternating with the buttermilk mixture, to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Beat until just blended.

5. Divide batter evenly between prepared pan halves. Bake until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, about 1 hour. Transfer to a wire rack and cool 10 minutes. Invert; cool completely.

6. Trim cakes if necessary. Place bottom part of the cupcake on a wire rack over a jelly roll pan, top-side down.

Make Glaze:

7. In a medium-size bowl, whisk together the confectioners sugar, lemon juice and food coloring until smooth. Pour glaze over the bottom half of cake to cover completely; use a spatula to help spread it onto side of cake. Let dry 5 minutes, then repeat, scraping up glaze from the pan and reusing excess. Let stand until glaze is set, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, make Frosting:

8. In a large bowl, beat together butter and cream cheese. Add the confectioners sugar and lemon juice and beat on low speed until smooth and good spreading consistency.

9. Turn over cupcake bottom and spread with a little frosting. Attach top of cupcake (trimmed level if needed) and spread with remaining frosting. Decorate with berries and sprinkles and add candles or sparklers, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Servings Per Recipe: 16; Amount Per Serving: cal. (kcal): 539, Fat, total (g): 22, chol. (mg): 93, sat. fat (g): 13, carb. (g): 82, fiber (g): 1, pro. (g): 5, sodium (mg): 183, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
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