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.

Enjoy!!

XXX