Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Buttercream Frosting

Lemon Curd is PERFECT for filling cupcakes! Especially when it is homemade! Here at the office, we recently made a batch of lemon cupcakes for a special someone’s birthday, and they would be great with the homemade lemon curd in them! Here is the recipe:
 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift ¾ c. all-purpose flour and ¾ c. cake flour into a bowl. Add 1 tsp. baking powder, ⅛ tsp. baking soda and ¼ tsp. salt and whisk 20 seconds, set aside. In a food processor, pulse together 3/4 cup + 2 Tbsp granulated sugar with 1 tbsp. lemon zest until finely ground, about 1 minute. In a bowl,whip together ½ c. unsalted butter with lemon sugar mixture until pale and fluffy. Mix in 1 egg, then mix in 2 egg whites one at a time, adding in ½ tsp vanilla with second egg white. In small bowl, whisk together ¼ c. + 3 tbsp buttermilk with 1 ½ tbsp lemon juice. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter/egg mixture, combine. Then add 1/2 of the buttermilk mixture to the butter/egg mixture and combine. Repeat process with flour and buttermilk mixture once more then finish by mixing in last 1/3 of the flour mixture. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl. Divide batter among 12 paper lined muffin cups. Bake about 18 - 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool, then transfer to a wire rack to cool. Meanwhile prepare simple syrup.

For the simple syrup:

In a small bowl, whisk together 1 Tbsp lemon juice with 1 Tbsp granulated sugar until sugar has dissolved. Brush mixture over warm cupcakes. Allow cupcakes to cool completely.

For the Lemon Buttercream Frosting:

In medium bowl, whip ¾ c. butter with 1 ½ tsp. lemon zest on medium-high speed until very pale and fluffy. Mix in 1 cup powdered sugar, then blend in 1 tbsp. lemon juice, 1 tbsp heavy cream, ½ tsp. vanilla extract and ¼ tsp. lemon extract. Add remaining 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, then whip mixture until very fluffy, about 4 - 5 minutes longer. Pipe or spread frosting over cupcakes. Decorate with lemon slices or lemon drop candies and mint leaves if desired, and enjoy!