Orange Poppy Seed Cupcakes With Buttercream Poppies Recipes

VANILLA-BUTTERCREAM FROSTING AND POPPIES

Steps:

• Heat sugar and egg whites in the heatproof bowl of a mixer set over a pan of simmering water, whisking constantly, until sugar dissolves and mixture reaches 140 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, about 2 minutes.
• Whisk with mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy and cooled, about 10 minutes. Whisk until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 2 minutes more.
• Reduce speed to medium-low, and add butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
• Switch to the paddle attachment, and raise speed to medium. Beat buttercream until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Pipe the poppies: Transfer one-quarter of the buttercream to a bowl (reserve remainder for frosting cupcakes), and tint with food coloring until you reach desired color for poppies. Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a large petal tip. Cut out twenty 2-by-3-inch rectangles of parchment. Adhere 1 parchment rectangle to a flower nail with a dab of buttercream. Holding the piping bag at a 45-degree angle, pipe 1 petal. Pipe a second petal, overlapping the first by 1/2 to 3/4 inch. Making a tighter turn with the nail, overlap the second petal to pipe a third.
• Sprinkle poppy seeds in the centers of flowers to create the look of stamens. Gently remove parchment from nail, and transfer to a baking sheet. Repeat with remaining parchment and tinted buttercream. Refrigerate poppies for at least 2 hours.
• Gently remove poppies from parchment using an offset spatula. Place 1 on top of each cupcake.

ORANGE SLEEPY POPPY CUPCAKE WITH SPIKED ORANGE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the orange poppy cake batter: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners (for a total of 26 cupcakes).
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar and poppy seed filling. Stir in the buttermilk. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt and whisk thoroughly. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and incorporate without over-mixing. Stir in the vanilla, orange oil and orange zest.
• Fill the cupcake liners two-thirds full; bake until an inserted toothpick comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
• For the orange cream cheese frosting: In a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat the butter on medium high until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the cream cheese and beat an additional 4 minutes. Turn off the mixer, add the confectioners' sugar one cup at a time and mix until fully incorporated. While on a low speed, mix in the orange juice, orange liqueur, orange oil and orange zest. Beat on high for an additional 2 minutes.
• Using a piping bag, pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes.

ORANGE-POPPY SEED CUPCAKES WITH BUTTERCREAM POPPIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 20 cups of two 12-cup muffin tins with baking cups. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt into a bowl. Stir together milk and 1/4 cup orange juice.
• Beat butter, 1 1/4 cups sugar, and the orange zest with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Reduce speed to low, and add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Beat in poppy seeds.
• Divide batter among muffin tins (filling each cup two-thirds full). Bake until golden around the edges, 18 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring remaining 1/4 cup orange juice and remaining 1/4 cup sugar to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Let stand until ready to use.
• Brush warm cupcakes with half the orange juice mixture. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack, and let cool for 30 minutes.
• Brush cupcakes again with remaining orange juice mixture, and let cool completely.
• Frost cupcakes with untinted buttercream. Top each with a buttercream poppy.

POPPING POPPY SEED CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Prepare the cake batter according to the package directions to make cupcakes. Stir in the lemon zest and poppy seeds, pour the batter into cupcake tins and bake according to the package directions. Let cool completely.
• For the frosting: Warm the honey in a small saucepan over low heat. Add the saffron, turn off the heat and let sit until the honey is room temperature.
• In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter and confectioners' sugar with an electric mixer until smooth. With the mixer running, slowly pour in the cooled honey until fully blended.
• Frost the cupcakes with the cream cheese frosting and garnish them with a sprinkle of poppy seeds.