For the Sponge:
40g unsalted butter softened
140g caster sugar
120g plain flour
½ tbso baking powder
Pinch of salt
Zest of a large lemon
1 egg
120ml whole milk
For the Filling:
Lemon curd (I prefer Waitrose ‘really zesty’ variety)
For the Icing:
25g Butter
125g icing sugar
60g cream cheese
1 tbsp lemon juice
For the Meringue:
2 egg whites
60g caster sugar
55g icing sugar
½ tsp corn flour
1.
Preheat the oven to 180°C, Gas mark 5, and line a
muffin tin with muffin cases
2.
Using a whisk, beat together the butter, sugar,
flour, baking powder, salt and lemon zest until the ingredients are well
incorporated and they resemble fine breadcrumbs.
3.
Break the eggs into a jug and add the milk and
whisk together by hand. Pour into the breadcrumb mixture and combine until all
ingredients are nicely incorporated and the batter is smooth.
4.
Spoon the batter into the paper cases, filling
each by about two thirds. This is important as otherwise they will spill over
the top making the cupcakes look uneven and messy. Bake in the oven for 18
minutes or until risen and springy to touch. Leave to cool on a wire rack. They
must cool completely before they are ready to ice.
5.
To make the frosting, combine the icing sugar
and the butter until it resembles fine breadcrumbs, then mash in the cream
cheese and the juice from the lemon. Leave in the fridge to cool.
6.
To make the meringue, using a hand held whisk,
whip the egg whites until they form very stiff peaks. Add the caster sugar bit
by bit whisking at the same time. Add the corn flour then the icing sugar. The
batter should look silky and retain shape. Pipe onto grease proof paper around
two inches in diameter peaks. Bake in an oven preheated to 130°C
for 50 minutes.
7. To construct the cupcake: Make a hole about 2cm (3/4 inch) deep and
2cm (3/4 inch)wide and using a teaspoon, fill the holes about half full with
lemon curd. Pipe the cream cheese frosting on the top of the cake and them top
with the meringue hats. To decorate
sprinkle with edible glitter and top with a sugar lemon slice.
