Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Blackberry Lime Cupcakes


The lowly blackberry. So often overshadowed by the stars of the berry family. That's right, I'm looking at you strawberries and blueberries.

Sometimes, a berry just needs its time to shine.

In a cupcake.

Smothered and covered with lime buttercream.

Filled with a sweet and tangy blackberry curd.

Need I say more? Alright blackberries, the stage is all yours.

Blackberry Lime Cupcakes


Original Recipe

For the blackberry cupcakes:
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, at room temperature
3 cups sugar
4 1/4 cups cake flour
5 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 cups pureed frozen blackberries
8 large egg whites
2/3 cup milk

For the blackberry curd:
2 pounds frozen blackberries
1/2 cup water
4 tablespoons flour
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 egg yolks
4 tablespoons unsalted butter

For the lime frosting:
1 1/2 pounds powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons lime zest
2-3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

For the cupcakes:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare muffin pans with liners or grease, if using.

In the bowl of a mixer, cream together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Mix in the blackberry puree. Don't worry if your batter looks super lumpy or chunky, it will work itself out.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder. Slowly (SLOWLY) add the flour to the creamed mixture. Once incorporated, increase the mixer speed to medium and mix for 2-3 minutes until once again it looks light and fluffy. (The end result has also been compared to looking like ice cream.)

In a large bowl, whisk together the egg whites and milk. Add to the batter in two or three additions, mixing only enough to incorporate between each.

Pour the batter into the prepare baking cups. Bake the cupcakes for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pans for 5 to 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.

For the curd:
In a medium saucepan, bring the blackberries and water to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 5 minutes, or until the blackberries are soft and mash easily. Pour blackberry mixture through a fine strainer, discarding pulp and seeds.

Add the flour and sugar to another medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in the blackberry juice. Once flour and sugar are fully incorporated into the juice, add the eggs and egg yolks, whisking frequently until the mixture thickens, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter until completely melted. Cover and place in the refrigerator until completely chilled.

Transfer the curd to a pastry bag. Using an apple corer (or sharp knife), hollow out the center of each cupcake. Fill each hole to the top with the curd.

For the frosting:
In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until light and fluffy. Slowly add in powdered sugar. Mix until it has a smooth consistency. Add the vanilla, lime juice, and lime zest. Mix until incorporated thoroughly. If frosting is too thick, add a tablespoon of milk and combine well.

Keep cupcakes refrigerated until ready to serve.


Makes: 36 cupcakes


Even though the blackberries give these light and fluffy cupcakes a great purple-blue coloring, the flavor in the cupcake alone didn't really come through the way I'd hoped. Enter, the blackberry curd. While it is a couple extra steps to put this together and pipe it into the cupcakes, I think given the light flavor of the cupcakes makes this part that much more important. It's definitely a great burst of flavor when you bite into it. Just don't forget that curd does need to stay chilled, so make room in the fridge!



Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 134g
Amount per serving
Calories 394Calories from fat 159
% Daily Value
Total Fat 17.7g27%
Saturated Fat 10.8g54%
Cholesterol 72mg24%
Sodium 139mg6%
Total Carbs 57.1g19%
Fiber 2.3g9%
Sugars 42.8g
Protein 3.8g
Vitamin A 13%Vitamin C 13%
Calcium 6%Iron 6%

22 comments:

  1. Wow that gooey middle is intense! I love black berries :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh wow! I was not expecting that ooey gooey middle in those cupcakes! Fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  3. BEAUTIFUL photos!!! These sound sooo refreshing!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What great cupcakes! I made a blackberry dish last week, and had trouble finding recipes for them! Good of you to help out, and feature the lonely blackberry!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Blackberries and lime! Definitely something I need to try! And the curd looks unbelievable!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, these are lovely, Danielle! I've never piped anything into a cupcake because I've always been afraid of what will happen... like an explosion of whatever I'm filling it with, haha.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow... Those look amazing! I really like the flavors in this, I've never seen a blackberry cupcake before now. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  8. yummy looking innovative cupcakes looks wonderful

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh, blackberries are underrated in my house! I love them... and would heart these cupcakes (or that curd slathered on some toast!)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Such an awesome flavour combo! Buzzed it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh my, these are outstanding. What a great recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love the color of these and the curd filling! Nice way to showcase lovely blackberries. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oooh blackberry and lime sounds like a great combo! Love that picture with the curd oozing out.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love blackberries and lime! That curd looks amazing...

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh WOW! I love the colour of that the blackberry curd! the cupcakes looks wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Glad you're showing the blackberries some love. Very unique recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  17. these look wonderful! can only begin to imagine how lovely they taste too :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. You surely made it shine.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love blackberries. And you're so right, they're often skipped over. I've never tried them in cupcake form. These look scrumptious! The curd and the lime frosting make this cupcake stand way out from a typically cupcake. I love it. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I am definitely going to have to try it soon. Do you think it would change the recipe much if I use fresh blackberries?

    ReplyDelete
  20. @Russell at Chasing Delicious Honestly, I'm not sure about the cupcake recipe. It may be a bit thinner than if using frozen, but I don't know why it would turn out any different in the end. The curd originally called for 2 qts fresh, but as they were going out of season I opted for the cheaper frozen ones.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love this creative combination! I would take blackberries over blueberries anyday. (Unfortunately my black thumb has managed to kill almost all of the blackberry bushes I planted this year). Your photography is gorgeous as well. Thanks for the yummy idea.

    ReplyDelete
  22. These look absolutely amazing. My 3 year old daughter passed by while I was looking at your picture and now I have to go to the store, buy some blackberries and make these for her asap! lol!

    Mariz
    Get Best Info for Senior Housing Seattle Hearthstone

    ReplyDelete