i love lavender...i have always, always found it so incredibly relaxing. i love a few drops sprinkled on my pillow to help me sleep at night, i love lavender body cream, i love english lavender perfume every so often sprayed in my wardrobe and delicately scenting my clothes. lavender is pure goodness, uninterrupted serenity, the height of calmness and peace. in making these cupcakes and perusing the internet i have found so many uses for lavender and i am so excited because i would just love to make my own lavender facial scrub, lavender salt, lavender sunburn treatment...i want to be more in charge of what i am putting in and on my body. i think making your own herbal remedies and cosmetics is really empowering. it feels good to scrub your face with something that is pure and natural. i really want to do that more. 
so my journey in baking and experimenting with herbs continues...and with such a love for lavender i have wanted to make lavender cupcakes for so long. so i started a couple of days ago with making the lavender sugar. so what did i end up doing? i just blitzed sugar and lavender buds in the food processor until it resembled fine powdery sugar. perfect! and then just used as normal sugar. i was disappointed that there wasn't a stronger aroma of lavender filling the kitchen...but then again i don't want the cupcakes to taste like soap so perhaps that was a good thing (anyway i got the aroma later on when i dried sprigs of lavender in the oven on a baking tray to put on top...bliss!)
for the icing i just decided on a very simple icing sugar mixed with milk and almost had a cupcake-tastrophe when i initially spooned on icing that was too runny and it started to drip down INSIDE the paper and cause the paper to peel itself off...yikes...couldn't have that...so thickened up the icing and it was fine (this of course wouldn't have happened if i'd used my regular cupcakes cases...but sometimes the traditional frilly ones are so cute.)
i popped the dried sprigs on top and the result...so simple but so pure. i love the deep purple of the lavender against that lovely white icing. i'm feeling calm just looking at the cupcakes. these cupcakes are for everyone out there this week who is in need of tender loving care, peace, serenity, calm and relaxation. take some time to enjoy a quiet moment. be kind to yourself. you are a child of the universe and deserve nothing but the best. with lots of lavender love x
Lavender Cupcakes (adapted from Forever Summer)1 cup self-rising flour
1/2 cup very soft butter
9 tbsp. lavender sugar, sifted (I recommend returning some of the petals to the batter)
2 eggs
1-2 tbsp milk
1-2 cups icing sugar
milk
culinary lavender to decorate
Preheat the oven to whatever works best for you.
Mix together the butter and sugar until smooth, then add the eggs one at a time, until completely blended.
Add the flour and mix gently.
Add the milk as needed to reach the right consistency.
Line a muffin pan with 10-12 paper liners and distribute the batter equally.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, until done.
When the cupcakes are cool, decorate with icing made by mixing icing sugar with milk so that it is a thick consistency...enough so it will just drop from the spoon (not too runny).
sprinkle with lavender petals.
eat, relax, unwind...you know you deserve it!
14 comments:
These look simply elegant.
I will try your froting recipe it's so simple for looking so nice. I thought it was fondant or something.
hi ivy, yup i'm really pleased with the way it came out too...it set so smooth. you can add whatever flavour essence you like to give it a different taste!
the sponge of the cupcakes look really moist. you're such a cupcake queen! never run any idea to such a lovely arrangement :)
Those are beautiful!
hi arfi - i like to photograph the inside of my cupcakes because no amount of pretty icing can hide a dry cake and the cake to me is very important!
hi suzy q-zy, thanks i wanted something simple and i think it's just as pretty as the ones with swirled high icing!
Beautiful! Just looking at these pics makes me feel more relaxed already. The cupcakes look so classy! I actually heard that lavender sugar doens't retain so much of the lavender aroma so your idea with dried sprigs on top definitely solves that problem :)
thank you, lore. i found when i ground up the lavender buds with the sugar in the processor it gave the sugar a much stronger flavour and hence the cupcakes tasted just right for my liking!
hi haley - sure feel free to use the recipe...looking forward to seeing it there! thanks :)
You're right, a dry cupcake inner is terrible. Some people think only the decoration matters but I disagree, the cake matters too!
Hello! I am new to your post, but I LOVE it! I am bound for Ireland in the fall. You see, as much as you seem to want to leave it, I want to find a way to stay there. I am from America, and I will be trying to establish a cupcake bakery there These cupcakes look gorgeous! I will definitely try out the recipe!
hi lorraine...ya i see so many photos of lovely looking cupcakes but always wonder what it's like on the inside...
welcome anita...good luck in your venture. ireland is definitely ready for a cupcake bakery. i might have stayed and done it myself if i had LOTS of money...it's expensive to open a business in Ireland!
oh my gosh, these are so elegant! And what a great recipe.. I will try this cos I don't know what to do with my dried lavenders. And you're absolutely right about loving lavender scent, it's so calming and therapeutic :))
pixxienix...lucky you for having lots of dried lavender! these will be perfect for that! enjoy a nice calming treat!
Hi Airy Fairy, so glad to stumble onto your blog. Just love it.
Lavender.... where can I get the sprigs....
Could I get it from the dried tea store like the one at B1 Raffles City??
How much lavender leaves do I use to add to your 9tbsp sugar for a good aroma.
Thanks again. Jacq
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