Lime & Pistachio cupcakes with lime cream cheese frosting

Lime and pistachio cupcakes have been on my to do list for a while now. 
 
I finally seized the opportunity today. I neglected the housework, 
 escaped the intensely ridiculous HEAT (it IS meant to be autumn!!) and ran away to my kitchen.
 

 
I adapted the “Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes” recipe from Glorious Treats, by adding crushed pistachio nuts and lime zest to the mixture. I also incorporated lime zest and juice with crushed nuts into the cream cheese icing. 
DEEELICIOUS!!
I was quite pleased to discover that my “Ohh Mum, no more cupcakes…please!!!!!”
 family members were discreetly trying to swipe these little beauties off the kitchen counter before I could photograph them! 
I am still trying to get adequate feedback from my tasting crew, 
but at least I got more than  the usual “Yeah, they’re good” comment in passing!
 
I am still fiddling with the recipe, and hope to make more tomorrow, but I will give you my version of these incredibly tasty morsels!
 
 
Perfect  Lime & Pistachio cupcakes with lime cream cheese frosting
 
1  1/4 cups plain flour
1  1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
3/4 cup castor sugar
1  1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
1/2 cup buttermilk
zest of 1 lime
1/4 cup crushed pistachio nuts
 
Turn oven on to 180 degrees cel. Prepare muffin tray
 
* In a medium bowl sift flour, baking powder, soda and salt. 
Grate lime zest into mix. Whisk and set aside.
 
*Place pistachio nuts in food processor until finely chopped.
Put nuts into dry flour mixture.
 
*In an electric mixer place eggs and beat  on medium for 20 seconds. 
Add sugar and beat for 30 seconds.
Add vanilla and oil. Beat until well combined.
 
*Reduce to low. Slowly add half of the flour mixture, half of the buttermilk, then flour again.
Beat until just combined. The mixture will be thin. 
 
*Pour batter into prepared muffin pans, filling each liner 2/3 full.
 
*Bake for 12-14 minutes until firm to touch in the middle. The cupcakes may sink a little bit in the middle because of the pistachio nuts. This is normal.
 
*Place on wire wrack to cool before frosting.
 
Recipe makes 12 cupcakes
 

Lime Cream Cheese Frosting

 
125 g unsalted butter at room temp
125 g cream cheese at room temp
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
500g pure icing sugar
zest of 1 lime
juice of 1/2 lime
2 tablespoons crushed pistachio nuts
 
 
* Place butter in electric mixer and beat on medium until light. Add cream cheese and lime zest, mixing until well combined.  Add vanilla essence.
 
* Turn mixer onto low and sift icing sugar into the mix. Do this a little at a time. 
 
*Slowly pour lime juice into the icing mix until frosting is a stiff, creamy consistency.
 
* Add green food colouring if desired. I used Americolor Electric Green.
 
* Pipe frosting onto cupcakes and sprinkle with more crushed nuts if desired.
 
 

 

4 thoughts on “Lime & Pistachio cupcakes with lime cream cheese frosting

  1. Oh Yummy!!!! They look amazing. I can just imagine how nice the lime cream cheese frosting will taste! I am bursting to make these! Thanks for the recipe!!!!

  2. YUMMM!! They look SO good! I think I might try to make them myself. 🙂
    You are so very clever!

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