Elderflower Cupcakes

Skill Level: Easy
45 minutes
Serves 12

Indulge in these gorgeous Elderflower Cupcakes, infused with Belvoir Farm Elderflower Cordial for a wonderfully delicate, floral sweetness. Topped with a matching elderflower frosting, each bite is light, fragrant, and utterly irresistible – perfect for afternoon tea or a sunny summer picnic.

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes:

2 1/4 cups Flour
1 1/2 tsp Baking powder 
1/2 tsp Baking soda 
1/2 tsp Salt
6 tbsp Unsalted butter, at room temperature 
1 1/4 cups Sugar 
2 tsp Meyer lemon zest
1 tsp Vanilla extract
2 Large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup Low-fat buttermilk
1/2 cup Plain fat-free Greek yogurt 

For the Elderflower Buttercream: 

1/2 cup Unsalted butter, at room temperature 
1/8 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract 
2 cups powdered sugar 
1 1/2 tbsp Elderflower Cordial 
1/2 tbsp Meyer lemon juice

Method

To make

  1. For the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350°F and line two 12-cup standard muffin pans with baking cups. Whisk together cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. 
  2. Beat butter and sugar in a large mixer bowl at medium speed until light and fluffy; beat in Meyer lemon zest and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time and beat until combined. Combine buttermilk and Greek yogurt in a small bowl. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk mixture (begin and end with flour mixture). 
  3. Divide batter evenly among cups (about 2/3 full) and bake for 18 to 19 minutes, until cupcakes are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 
  4. Remove cupcakes from the oven and transfer pans to a wire rack; use a pastry brush to brush tops of cupcakes evenly with elderflower cordial. Let stand for 5 minutes, then carefully remove cupcakes from pans and place them on a wire rack to cool completely. 
  5. For the buttercream, beat butter, salt, and vanilla in a large mixer bowl on medium speed until smooth. Mix in powdered sugar on low speed 1 cup at a time until fully incorporated. Add elderflower cordial and Meyer lemon juice and mix in on low speed until smooth. 
  6. Use an offset spatula to spread frosting over cooled cupcakes and top with sugared flowers.