lavender almond cupcakes + almond buttercream

I want Spring. I need Spring. I love sunshine and pretty flowers and gorgeous weather. When I looked outside this morning, I fell in love. It was gorgeous! What better way to capture spring than with lavender? Lavender is comforting and fragrant, so I saught out a way to incorporate lavender into a cupcake. What I discovered was something unimaginably unique and stunningly delicious.

Lavender Almond Cupcakes
*recipe adapted from Taste of Home

2 cups sugar - divided
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 tablespoon dried lavender flowers
2 sticks butter
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 oz. sour cream
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 muffin cups with muffic liners and set aside. Place 1/2 cup sugar, almonds, and lavender flowers into food processor and process until finely ground and set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter, vanilla and remaining 1-1/2 cups of sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add almond mixture until ingredients are incoporated. Add one egg at a time, blending on low speed between eggs.

In another bowl, combine 8 oz. of sour cream and heavy whipping cream. In another large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add cream mixture alternately with sour cream mixture, making sure to blend well until all ingredients are incorporated.

Spoon mixture into lined muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand five minutes then transfer to baking rack to cool.

Almond Buttercream (24 cupcakes)
2 sticks butter
4 cups confectioners sugar
2-4 tablespoons heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Cream butter until fluffy, about a minute or so. Add confectioners sugar one cup at a time. Begin with mixer on low speed until sugar is incorporated, then increase to medium speed and and beat until smooth. Incorporate almond extract. Add cream until desired consistency is reached.

Until next time...