Lavender Honey Cupcakes

Note from Cheri: The recipe, text and photo below are reprinted with permission from 500 Cupcakes -- The Only Cupcake Compendium You'll Ever Need by Fergal Connolly (2005 Ronnie Sellers Productions). The title of this book pretty much says it all. You have a HUGE variety of cupcake recipes to choose from -- everything from classic favorites to new takes on an old theme. There are full color photos of most of the recipes and the instructions are clear and easy to follow. Each recipe comes with three variations, so it's sure you'll never run out of new cupcakes to try. Click here for our full review of this book along with discount ordering links through Amazon.com.

The marriage of lavender and honey is truly wonderful. If you can find lavender honey, it will enhance the flavor even more.

For the Cupcakes 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 1 cup superfine sugar 2 cups self-rising flour 4 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For the Frosting 1 cup cream cheese, softened 1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted 1/3 cup honey blue food coloring 2 tablespoons dried lavender flowers

Makes 18 Preheat oven to 400°F. Place 18 baking cups in muffin pans. Combine all the cupcake ingredients in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth and pale, about 2 to 3 minutes. Spoon the batter into the cups. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove pans from the oven and cool for 5 minutes. Then remove the cupcakes and cool on a rack. For the frosting, beat the cream cheese and confectioner's sugar in a medium bowl with an electric mixer, until light and creamy. Beat in the honey and a few drops of the food coloring. Stir in half the lavender flowers. Spread the frosting onto the cupcakes and sprinkle with the reserved lavender flowers. Store without frosting in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Variations: Bitter Chocolate and Lavender Cupcakes -- Prepare the basic cupcake recipe. After mixing the batter, fold in 1/2 cup ( 3 1/2 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips. Gumdrop and Lavender Cupcakes -- Prepare the basic cupcake recipe. After mixing the batter, fold in 1/2 cup ( 3 1/2 ounces) fruit gumdrops to the batter. Lavender and Orange Flower Cupcakes -- Prepare the basic cupcake recipe. To make the frosting, combine 3 tablespoons orange flower water with the cream cheese and confectioner's sugar. Beat well and stir in the lavender flowers.