Cucumber Lemon Cupcakes

Cucumber Lemon Cupcakes are inspired by my cucumber lemonade obsession during this past few weeks. I can't have enough of that stuff that I even made my own cucumber-lemonade flavored soda.

There haven't been any cupcake post in here for a long while, and it would not be right for this blog to have "Cupcakes" in it's name if you wouldn't see any cupcake post on the home page. I have planned more cupcake-dessert fusion, as I call it, in the future. In the meanwhile, take a bite of this cupcake.

These are cucumber-lemon cupcakes with a cucumber-lemon buttercream. The cucumber flavor is subtle, but you can definitely taste it. They are as delicious as the drink they are inspired from. If you want it more green, you can leave the cucumber unpeeled when pureeing it.

Cucumber Lemon Cupcakes

Notes [ HEART: Lemon, BASE: Cucumber ]

Ingredients

Cupcakes [makes 18 mini cupcakes, or 6 regular cupcakes]

1/2 c. all purpose flour

3/4 tsp. baking powder

dash of salt

1/4 c. butter, room temperature [1/2 stick]

1/2 c. sugar

1 egg

1 tbsp. lemon zest

1/2 tsp. lemon extract

1/4 c. cucumber puree

Cucumber-Lemon Buttercream

1/4 c. butter
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/4 tsp. lemon extract
1 tbsp. cucumber puree

Directions

1. MAKE BATTER: Preheat oven to 375°F. Line cupcake pan with liners. 
2. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl.

3. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar, then add egg, lemon extract, and lemon zest.

4. Add half of the flour mixture and cucumber puree to butter-lemon mixture, beat then add remaining flour mixture.
5. BAKE CUPCAKES*: For mini cupcakes, fill liners with a tablespoon of batter. Bake for about 12 minutes, do toothpick test. If they are not done, check at 1 minute intervals.

6. MAKE FROSTING: In a bowl, cream butter, then add powdered sugar. Lastly, add cucumber puree and lemon extract. Mix well.

7. ASSEMBLE CUPCAKES: Frost the cupcakes. Top with a slice of cucumber if desired. Serve and enjoy.

* FOR REGULAR CUPCAKES: Fill liners 2/3 full. Bake for about 16 minutes, do toothpick test. If they are not done, check at 1 minute intervals. Cool on wire rack.