Sunday, June 14, 2020

CUPCAKES AND LOVE OF LAVENDER




Lavender and its Benefits


The lavender in my flower beds started blooming during the spring. Anticipating the heavenly fragrance from the blooms for the veranda, I wanted to pick up new plants from my garden center for planting in containers.  Of course, I haven't been out since early March and the quarantine and I was concerned that this late date for planting here there would not be any plants left. I decided it would be safe enough if I took all the precautions and go shopping. This weekend I made a short and very early morning visit to the garden center. I was one of a few people in the outdoor center and I was wearing a mask for safety for myself and others and I practiced social distancing. If you know me you know I could spend hours here but I was in and out in lighting speed! Get what I need and leave was my motto. I found the plants, a new shipment had arrived. These plants
will be used around the sunny area of the veranda and patio
and will be enjoyed all summer long. Did you know you can use lavender to help you enjoy your outdoor space more, it is an excellent insect-repellent plant. Try strategically placing lavender plants around your outdoor space. It will not prevent mosquitos and gnats but it helps. 
We will transfer the container lavender to flower beds in the fall. I love being outside enjoying the fragrance and watching hummingbirds partake of my lavender. 


A few more ways I enjoy lavender is is for cleaning. I add a few drops of essence oil
to antibacterial soap and water for wiping down surfaces in the kitchen and baths. My counters sparkle and smell so fresh and clean. A few drops of essence oil to dryer balls is fabulous for sweet smelling laundry. I love the added fragrance of lavender soap



in the baths. Personally, I love lavender sachets, lotions and mists, they are wonderful for lulling you to sleep after your bath. 


Another way I enjoy lavender is baking. Lavender loves to be mixed with other flavors, lemon and honey are two favorites. This cupcake 
recipe is great for a shower, tea or birthday party for adults, no sprinkles here!  A few weeks ago I baked this favorite cupcake recipe. 



Lavender is blooming and I thought I would share it here with you.






Lemon Lavender Cupcakes

*Always use culinary lavender

Cupcakes

1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
dash salt
1/2 cup butter
1cup sugar
2 eggs plus 2 egg whites, room temperature 
1 cup lavender infused milk
1 tsp lemon extract


Frosting

3/4 cup butter, room temperature  
1 tsp lemon extract
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbsp lavender infused milk (more or less as needed)
lemon zest from 3 lemons for garnish 
lavender buds for garnish
lavender sugar for garnish



Instructions

*To make lavender infused milk

Add culinary lavender buds to the amount of milk you need for recipe. Soak overnight and strain (or you can use cheese cloth).





Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray muffin pan with Baker's Joy or line with cupcake liners.
In a mixing bowl sift together flour, salt and baking powder and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl beat butter until light and fluffy. Add sugar a little at a time while beating until combined.
Add eggs and egg whites and continue to beat until fluffy. 
Gradually add the flour mixture, lavender milk and lemon extract mixture, alternating these to the butter and egg mixture and continue beating until incorporated.  
Spoon batter evenly into cupcake pan. Bake 16-20 minutes (depending on your oven) until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cool completely before frosting.








Pretty in MacKenzie-Childs cupcake liners


Frosting

Beat butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar and lavender milk and continue to beat until combined. Add more or less milk and sugar to get the right consistency for spreading. 
Frost cupcakes and garnish with lemon zest and lavender buds.







Do you enjoy baking with lavender? If you do I would love for you to tell me. I hope you will leave a comment, it's the only way I know you were here. 



15 comments:

  1. I love lavender! If you would send me your address by email, I would love to send you a small gift that includes the Lavender Soak that I sell. I enjoy food cooked with lavender as well, but I don't usually cook with it as I never really knew how.

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  2. Hi Emily, I loved all the info you shared about lavender! I had no idea this wonderful stuff was so handy! My son actually planted some in our herb pot at the beach house where it is a burst of color among the rosemary and basil plants. Your cupcakes look and sound heavenly in their sweet Courtly Check cupcake holders. I'm so glad you were able to make a safe visit to your garden center and get some new plants, happy gardening!
    Jenna

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  3. Pretty cupcakes, Emily! My husband LOVES buttercream icing. I have never baked with lavender. I love the plant though, and cherish all my harvested buds form the past for purposes other than culinary. I baked all day Sunday, muffins and scones. I love freezing them and having them as a sweet treat.

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  4. Emily, these are so pretty! And like you, I love lavender, so every photo makes me smile. I'm glad you were able to get some new plants. I didn't realize about the insect-repelling qualities, another terrific reason to load up. I still haven't been out and I wonder how/when that will ever happen. The recipe looks delicious. Thank you for this sweet smelling journey into the world of lavender!

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  5. Oh those look so tasty!! I use lavender for my allergies, mixed with lemon and pepperming essential oils. I diffuse it every night. It makes my bedroom smell so good. I also am using the Mrs Meyer's lavender hand sanitizer spray. It is lovely.

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  6. Hi Emily, I love lavender and brought back as many lavender items as I possibly could from France. I make lavender ice cream sandwiches every summer. Your cupcakes sound wonderful and look so pretty in their Courtly Check cupcake holders. I'm so glad you were able to make a safe visit to your garden center and get some new plants. I tried growing lavender but don't seem to have a green thumb for it. It does fine all summer, but doesn't come back the following summer.

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  7. Thank you for sharing all the uses of lavender, Emily. My daughter gave ma lavender topiary, and it died, and my neighbor gave me a lavender plant, and it died, too. I do love the smell, though. I’ve used dried buds in making soap, but I’ve never baked with lavender. Your cupcakes look heavenly, and so pretty in their CC liners. I’d be most happy to taste them! 💜

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  8. I love the fragrance of lavender and I think it elevates your mood.I love to use liquid lavender soap.
    I haven't baked with lavender but my DIL made lavendar chicken once and it was good. I still have some of the culinary lavender so I need to make your cupcake recipe.Your cupcakes look so pretty.
    I'm pinning.
    I love you MKC cupcake liners. So pretty.

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  9. Emily, I'm a fan of lavender. I had it growning in our herb garden, but lost it this past year. I purchased a new container this spring, but it didn't make it through our rainy spring. My luck with lavender isn't very good this year. I do cook with lavender on occasion. I like to make a lavender cake. I'll send you the recipe. Your cupcakes look so pretty in the MKC cupcake holders and the touch of lavender accents on top.
    I keep a lavender pillow beside my bed. I take a few sniffs for relaxation and calming. My sister keeps one in her car.

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  10. Thanks for sharing your love of lavender and the information with all of its uses. I love lavender essential oil. It is my favorite to have in my house. I must purchase some lavender to add to my gardens. Your cupcakes look delish and so cute the the MKC holders. Take care.

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  11. Emily, love this post and your different uses of lavender. We have so much around here. The cupcakes are lovely. Lavender has great benefits like you shared. Great for aid of sleeping. I am so sorry your post snuck by me. I hope you and Jim are doing well. Thank you for sharing at Love Your Creativity.

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  12. I love lavender as well, never tried it in cooking though, I'm intrigued.
    Amalia
    xo

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  13. I love lavender, so this post just made me smile. Sadly, here in Minnesota, lavender does not do good. there are two types that apparently do we well, so we will be trying those next year. Like you, I enjoy lavender when baking. Always adds a beautiful layer of flavor.

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  14. Those cupcakes look so perfect! I love adding lavender to my shortbread recipe so I'm certain that I would find your cupcakes to be delicious. Thanks for sharing.

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  15. I need to plant lavender around our patio. I had no idea that lavender repelled insects! This is a very informative post. I love essential oils, too.
    LOVE the cupcake sleeves! So cute!

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