LEMON AND RASPBERRY CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 175C/ gas 4. Place the cupcake cases inside the holes in the muffin trays.
• To make the frosting, place the cream cheese in a mixing bowl and beat until smooth and creamy. Place the butter, icing sugar and lemon zest in a separate bowl and cream together until very pale and fluffy. Add the cream cheese, a little at a time, to the butter mixture and mix at medium-high speed until combined. Chill until set.
• To make the cupcakes, place the butter, sugar, salt and lemon zest in a mixing bowl and cream together until pale and fluffy. Beat the eggs lightly in another bowl and slowly pour into the butter mixture while whisking quickly. If the mixture starts to separate or curdle, beat in 2-3 tbsp of the flour. Sift in the remaining flour and stir until well combined.
• Using a tablespoon, place the batter into the cupcake cases until 2/3 full. Drop 2 or 3 raspberries into each cupcake. Bake for 12-15 minutes until the tops are golden brown and spring back. Remove and rest for 10 minutes.
• While the cupcakes are baking, prepare the sugar syrup. Place the lemon juice and sugar into a saucepan and bring to the boil. Simmer until all the sugar has dissolved. Set aside to cool.
• Using a pastry brush, soak the tops of the cupcakes with sugar syrup while they are still warm. Let them cool a little longer, then remove the cupcakes from the trays and leave to cool on a wire rack.
• Fill a piping bag fitted with a large round nozzle with the chilled frosting. Pipe a swirl of frosting on top of each cupcake, then finish with a raspberry on top.