Lemon Meringue Cupcakes / Peppermint Cookie Fudge

Lemon Meringue Cupcakes  / peppermint cookie fudge


Lemon Meringue Cupcakes, inspired by the classic pie

These gorgeous little cupcakes are inspired by the classic lemon meringue pie. Filled with tangy lemon curd and topped with fluffy meringue they are …
 Lemon Meringue Cupcakes
These cheerful nibbles are inspired by Martha's signature lemon meringue pie. Martha made this recipe on Martha Bakes episode 308.

• Yield: Makes 24

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• Finely grated zest of 3 lemons (about 3 tablespoons), plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk
• Lemon Curd
• Seven-Minute Frosting

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is until incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in zest and vanilla. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of buttermilk and lemon juice, and beating until just combined after each.
   Watch: How to Zest Three Ways
3. Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until golden brown and a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes. Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.
4. To finish, spread 1 tablespoon lemon curd onto middle of each cupcake. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a large open-star tip (Ateco #828 or Wilton #8B) with frosting. Pipe frosting onto each cupcake, swirling tip slightly and releasing as you pull up to form a peak. Hold a small kitchen torch 3 to 4 inches from surface of frosting, and wave it back and forth until frosting is lightly browned all over. Serve immediately.
   Watch: How to Pipe Using a Star Tip

http://www.marthastewart.com/336435/lemon-meringue-cupcakes






This peppermint cookie fudge packs a triple punch sensation with a delicious flavor, good looks and a texture combination of creamy and crunchy that makes it hard to stop at one piece.Which is why you should probably make up a double batch…..or maybe 3. Y’know y’all will thank me for this advice once you are wrapping up pieces for gifts. I ended up with none left over for myself and I had to whip up another batch – true story

Anyhoo I made up batches of this fudge for Christmas teacher gifts and popped the pieces into little boxes wrapped with decorative Christmas Paper. They would also look great wrapped in simple clear cello wrap tied with ribbons.
But remember however you wrap them it’s the thought that counts, and anyone that is lucky enough to receive this peppermint cookie fudge as a gift will know how much thought and will power went into handing these delicious treats over in one piece.
Peppermint cookie fudge makes 20 large pieces or 60ish small pieces – the ones in the picture are large
7 oz (200g) white marshmallows
1 1/2 cup white cane sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk (not low fat)
1/4 tsp salt
9 oz (250 g) white chocolate chopped into small pieces
6 oz (170 g) dark chocolate chopped into small pieces
3 oz (85 g) milk chocolate chopped into small pieces
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
few drops green food color
6 to 8 chocolate cream filled cookies (eg. Oreo mint fudge creams or Regular Oreos or in Australia Arnotts Mint Slice) Organic Brand:  Newman's -Own