This weekend Mags threw a post-partum baby shower (a “Sip ‘n’ See”) for Ryder and Rusty’s new little one, Rosa. Because the colours of her baby room are gray and purple, I decided to stick to the theme and make Earl Grey cupcakes with lavender icing. Sounds fancy!
I adapted the Earl Grey cupcake batter from Oh So Very Pretty and chose the Lavender Mascarpone frosting from Kitschy Girl’s Guide and I’m so happy with the results (I made three dozen, so they had better be good!). For both the cupcakes and the frosting, you need a little bit of time beforehand to prep your infusions, so you might want to do them the day before if you’re in a rush.
For the cupcakes:
Microwave or gently heat 2/3 cup whole milk for about a minute. Plop 4 bags Earl Grey tea (or the loose equivalent, if you’ve got it) in the milk and let that steep for 30 minutes. I pretty much just left mine like this until I was done doing everything else, including washing the dishes and walking the dog. So like, an hour.
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a muffin tray with cups.
In a bowl, whisk together 1 3/4 cup cake flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together 3/4 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup butter.
Add in 2 eggs, 1/3 cup sour cream, and 3 tablespoons vanilla.
Slowly mix the flour mixture into the liquid, alternating with the steeped milk, until just combined.
Scoop the batter into your cupcake liners so that they are half to two-thirds full and bake for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre cupcake comes out clean. Set them on a wire rack to cool completely. These are puffy cupcakes.
For the icing:
Start with the lavender syrup. In a small saucepan on medium heat, dissolve 1/4 cup granulated sugar in 1/2 cup water.
Lightly grind up 2 tablespoons lavender flowers.
You like my new mortar and pestle? It was a Lee Valley birthday present from Krystopf and Atlas.
Toss the lavender into the syrup and bring the whole thing to a simmer for about 3 minutes. Remove it from the heat and allow it to cool completely before straining out the flower bits. I may have missed a few.
In the chilled bowl of an electric mixer (chill your beater, too), start whipping up 1 cup heavy whipping cream and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Slowly add 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and keep going until the cream has formed stiff peaks.
Add in 1 cup room temperature mascarpone and slowly drizzle in your cooled lavender syrup. (I mixed in a bit of lavender gel paste food colouring to the mascarpone to give the whole batch of icing a pale purple colour).
This icing is so luscious and lovely I want to actually rub it into my skin. I don’t know why.
Shove the icing into a piping bag and have at it with your cupcakes. Feel free to sprinkle the tops with crushed lavender or purple sugar or whatever floats your boat. The icing was a little too warm in these shots so it’s a little runny, but as long as it’s cold you’re golden.
Awesome icing – perfect colour. These sound yummy 🙂
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They were by all accounts delicious, though I forgot to eat one for myself!
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earl grey is my favourite tipple so will have to try these, they look delicious 🙂
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Mine too! And you can definitely taste the tea in the batter. I think that the lavender in the icing also picks up the bergamot a bit, too.
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it does sound like the flavours would compliment each other well. yummy! 🙂
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I love the color and I am sure the flavor is subtle but satisfying. I may have to try these out soon. 🙂
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I thought they would be super subtle but maybe it’s because of the length of time I steeped them — they’re quite evident, but not overpowering.
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Oh lovely! I will keep you posted on how mine turn out.
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Ooh, excellent. I can’t wait!
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These look delicious!!! I love Earl Grey and Lavender… I’ll have to try these 🙂
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You definitely will!
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Those look beyond delish. My mouth is watering just thinking about that icing!
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It’s incredible!
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Looks delicious!
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Ooh, love it! I am going to have to try these – just made an Earl Grey and Cardamom cake (recipe over on my blog shortly), but I love the purpley hue of the icing and the idea of a hint of lavender. I also have some to use up – more baking on the way I feel!
Hope the PhD thesis is going well, or going at all. I feel your pain – final stages of my own, on something far less interesting (international law) and desperately trying to get the blog/baking/gardening/procrastination/work/thesis writing balance right. Or rather, just to do some darn work!! 🙂
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Haha sounds like you and I should be best friends!
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Where’s the like button for comments?! 🙂
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Hahah, it’s in my heart Anna! 😉
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