Cupcakes and roses

Let me begin this post by thanking all of you for all the love and the encouragement and for meeting me here at Orange kitchens.Really, it feels great. And puts me in such a happy mood.

You know what else puts me in really really happy mood? Cupcakes.

Yes, I love cupcakes even if many in the culinary community feel that they are a thing of the past.They sit pretty, are easy to make and you can dress up the same recipe differently each time, to suit every occasion and this year I made them every other week. Lemon, rich chocolate, apricot, walnut...you name it. so when it came to which recipe should I begin with, it had to be the rose cupcakes I made a while back for mum's birthday. And then I made them again for a breakfast at a friend's place and again for a pre-Diwali get together and again..mm..well because what can I say, they were a breeze to make and lovely to eat. And they never failed me.

So they are well tried, tested and tasted:)

Glossy top, a very light and springy base and a hint of gulab jal (Rose water).

Rose  petal cupcakes

Makes 12

Ingredients

125 gms all purpose flour

125 gms butter, softened

125 gms, golden or regular caster sugar

2 medium eggs, beaten

1 tbsp rosewater

For the icing:

1 egg white

about 30 rose petals

caster sugar for dusting

175 gms icing sugar

1 tbsp glycerine

2 tbsp rosewater

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 180°C

1. Sift the flour into a bowl and add the butter,sugar,eggs and rosewater.Beat till smooth and then spoon into the cupcake liners.
2. Bake at 180 for about 15 minutes until well risen and springy in the center.Leave to cool.

To decorate:

1. Place a butter paper on a flat surface. Beat the egg white until frothy and brush it over the rose petals. Set the petals over the paper and dust with caster sugar. Leave for about 3 hours until they are dry and sparkling.
2. Beat the icing sugar with the rose water first and then add the glycerine.Spread over the top of each cupcake and add rose petals on top. You will need to do this really quickly as the icing sets really fast. 

Enjoy.

Image : Personal Album

Recipe : Adapted from the book Cupcakes & Muffins by Ann Nicol
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