Key Lime Cupcakes With White Chocolate Frosting Recipe

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon grated lime zest
• 1 3/4 tablespoons key lime juice
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2 1/2 ounces white chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 dash salt
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 tablespoon key lime juice
• 1/8 cup sour cream
• grated lime zest, for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a mixing bowl, cream together 3/4 cup of unsalted butter and 1 cup of sugar on high speed until it’s light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Then, on low speed, add 2 eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add in 1 teaspoon of vanilla, 1 teaspoon of grated lime zest, and 1 3/4 tablespoons of key lime juice, mixing until well combined.
3. In another bowl, sift together 1 1/2 cups of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in 5 parts, alternating with 1/2 cup of buttermilk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined; overmixing can lead to dense cupcakes.
4. Line muffin tins with paper liners and fill each one about 3/4 full with the batter.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes, or until the tops are lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.
6. For the frosting, melt 2 1/2 ounces of chopped white chocolate in a small glass bowl set over a pot of simmering water, stirring until smooth. Allow it to cool until slightly warm.
7. In a mixing bowl, beat 1/2 cup of unsalted butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add 1 1/2 cups of confectioners’ sugar on low speed until well mixed. Then add a dash of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla, 1/2 tablespoon of key lime juice, and 1/8 cup of sour cream, mixing until well combined. Finally, add the melted white chocolate and mix just until incorporated.
8. Frost the cooled cupcakes with the white chocolate frosting and garnish with grated lime zest.