Cherry Blossoms and Springtime Baking

04/10/2012

One of the most beautiful times of year in Washington is Spring, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. The city holds a month-long festival with a parade and all sorts of special events, and visitors flood into the area from all over the world. The sun is shining, and the blossoms blanket the banks of the Potomac River in a magnificent display of pale pink, hot pink and soft white splendor! The blossoms also smell heavenly, and there's a certain excitement in the air.

Our first year at Georgetown Cupcake, we decided that we wanted to make a special cupcake to celebrate springtime in Washington. Now, our Cherry Blossom cupcake is one of our most popular at Georgetown Cupcake! Try our recipe at home!

Georgetown Cupcakes Cherry Blossom Cupcakes
Makes 12 cupcakes (with a little extra batter left over)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup fresh cherries, chopped (or frozen and defrosted if fresh not available)
2 1/2 cups flour, sifted
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, sifted
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 1/4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, plus seeds from 1 vanilla bean
1 1/4 cups whole milk, at room temperature

For the cherry buttercream frosting:
16 tablespoons butter
4 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon whole milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup of fresh cherry juice (juice squeezed from cherries; if you use frozen cherries, there should be enough juice once the cherries have thawed)

Directions:
1. Line a standard cupcake pan with 12 paper baking cups. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Sift together the dry ingredients on parchment and set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar for 3-5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing slowly after each addition.
4. Add the vanilla to the milk.
5. Add a third of the dry ingredients to the bowl, followed by a third of the milk. Mix thoroughly. Repeat. Using a spatula, gently fold in the cherries.
6. Scoop the batter into the cupcake pan using a standard-size ice cream scoop, and bake for 16-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

For the frosting:
1. Combine the ingredients in a mixer and whip together at high speed until light and airy, approximately 3-5 minutes.
2. Frost each cupcake with a signature swirl of icing, and top with a fondant cherry blossom. For the fondant cherry blossom, roll out pink shades of fondant, and cut out cherry blossoms using a mini flower cookie cutter. Add a candy center if desired. Serve and enjoy!

Image by Dayna Smith

 

Comments

[Emily]

Hi Sophie and Katherine! My name is Emily and I'm 12 years old and i have a awesome supporting and loving greek (like you guys:)!)family! When I grow up want to open my own little place where I can sell people yummy cookies pastries and of course CUPCAKES!!! I LOVE cupcakes. Espesially yours!:)Your cupcakes are adorable! We were in Washington DC and were gonna go to your place but we couldn't because my little sister got hurt and we had to go to the ER but don't worry she ended up being okay:) Anyways these cupcakes look delicious! Maybe I'll try to make them;) I love your blog also. I'm addicted to reading it! Okay.. That's it :) bye! -Emily

[http://www.zaragozajewelry.com/engagement-rings/]

The frosting looks a tad bit hard, but I'll give it a go. Can't say I'm not willing to try out new things ;)

[Jennifer]

Hey you guys, my name is Jennifer and of course im 12 years old also. I found out about your guy's cupcakes by my friend Sydney. She is just like me, we love to bake and make all their faces have a smile on them. I have not been to your guys place yet, but I;m hoping someday i can and eat the delicious cupcakes you guys make. I am trying to make these beautiful cupcakes but they are you know, quite hard. I'm making them for my birthday and bringing it in for my classmates to enjoy. I really hope i can do it...well wish me luck, and thanks you guys you are so awesome <3

[Gladys M B]

hello beautifull ladies, i love all that you make and bake ,hope someday i will have a little place like yours and bake adorable cupcakes like you. Im from Mexico and see your shows when i can.God bless you