Lavender Cupcakes with Honey Frosting
Ingredients For the cupcakes: 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened 1 cup sugar
2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract About 1/2 teaspoon red and 1/2 teaspoon blue food coloring* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 1/2 tablespoons dried lavender buds 2/3 cup cold milk
For the frosting: 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 4 cups powdered sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 tablespoons honey, plus a little extra for drizzle
Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin tins with cupcake liners.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the softened butter and sugar together. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each egg. Stir in the vanilla and food coloring.
In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Chop the dried lavender buds into fine, small pieces. Stir into the flour mixture.
Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Stir in the milk.
Scoop batter evenly into lined muffin tins. Bake for 18-24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool in the tins for about 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the frosting: In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese together. Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing on low, until the frosting is smooth and creamy. Beat in the vanilla extract and honey.
