Almond Easter Egg Cupcake Recipes

ALMOND CITRUS CUPCAKE

Steps:

• For the cupcake batter: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners (for a total of 24 cupcakes); lightly spray the liners with cooking spray.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, mix together the cake flour, granulated sugar, almond meal, baking powder and salt. Add the butter and mix until crumbly in appearance, about 1 minute. Add the egg whites and whole egg and mix on medium until fluffy, about 1 minute. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the milk, orange juice, vanilla extract, almond extract and lemon zest. Mix approximately a third of the wet ingredients into the flour mixture. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl and beat for 1 minute on medium speed. Continue two more times with the remaining wet ingredients, beating for 1 minute between additions.
• Scoop one scoop of the batter into each cupcake liner. Bake until the cupcakes bounce back from gentle pressure, about 20 minutes. Remove from the pans and cool.
• For the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the cream cheese and butter on medium speed until completely combined and free of lumps, about 2 minutes. On the lowest speed, slowly add the confectioners' sugar and mix until combined, about 1 minute. Add the orange zest and juice, vanilla extract and salt and mix on medium speed until light and smooth, about 2 minutes.
• To assemble, frost the cooled cupcakes with the citrus frosting using a pastry bag fitted with a star tip.

CHERRY & ALMOND EASTER CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and place 24 cupcake cases into cupcake tins. Beat the butter and sugar together with electric beaters or a tabletop mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, 250g flour, baking powder, orange zest and juice and beat well till thick, creamy and evenly mixed.
• Toss cherries in the extra 2 tbsp flour and fold into the batter along with grated marzipan and almond essence (if using). Spoon into the cupcake cases and bake for 20-25 mins, or until well risen and golden. Leave to cool in tin for 10 mins, then place on a cooling rack to cool completely.
• Mix the icing sugar with around 1 tbsp water to make a loose but not-too-runny icing. Ice the tops of the cupcakes and top each one with about 3 mini chocolate eggs.