Em's Crazy Easy Lavender Cupcakes

{GIVEAWAY REMINDER: Don't forget to enter the Oscar De La Renta giveaway here!}

Morning, and happy Tuesday to you! Take a look at the complete perfection I have in store for you today:

These cupcakes are soft, sweet, and delicately delicious. The mixture of the sweet and simple cake with the rich lavender is a flavor so unique and complex. The texture is utterly light and fluffy, with a crumb so small and so moist that they melt in your mouth. Preserved lavender flowers are ground, as well as left whole and mixed into a delicious white cake batter. After coming out of the oven steaming hot, you have the option to let them cool and top with a light cream cheese frosting for the perfect combination of sweetness, or sprinkle them with a touch of confectioners sugar as a muffin to go with your morning breakfast routine. Mmmm.

Most people know that lavender can be eaten, but most don't ever think of raising and harvesting to use in culinary persuits. We use it so much around here that even though it is a staple in our garden, we've found it much easier and cheaper to simply order it in bulk from specialty organic herb and spice companies. (If you do plan to use your lavender in cooking, make sure you are using an edible variety, as some kinds are not good for consumption.) We like to powder the flourets and keep containers of the whole and powdered easy at hand in the kitchen to use in various fish, poultry, and baking recipes. Lavender is that favorite secret ingredient that few can pinpoint, but that adds some wonderful notes of flavor to a broad spectrum of sweet and savory dishes.  

Em's Crazy Easy Lavender Cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 1 Box White Cake Mix
• Milk
• ¼ Cup powdered lavender
• 2 Tbsp lavender flowers 

Method: 

Prepare a white box cake batter, only replacing milk for water and adding in the powdered lavender and lavender flowers (Please make sure you are using an edible variety of lavender!!).  

Pour into muffin cups and bake as directed on your mix box.

Let them cool completely (but give one or two a try while hot:)), and top with your favorite cream cheese icing mixed with a drop or two of purple food coloring.

Top with a very few lavender flowers if desired, and serve!

If you'd like you may choose to follow a simple white cake recipe of your choice in place of the box cake, but than you lose the 'crazy easy' part:)

I gave some to a friend and had guests over to try them and the response was equally enthusiastic, so be sure and let me know if you plan on giving them a try! I love hearing feedback!
take care today and have fun!


xoxo, Emmy