STRAWBERRY TOPPED LEMON CUPCAKES WITH LIMONCELLO GLAZE

STRAWBERRY TOPPED LEMON CUPCAKES WITH LIMONCELLO GLAZE image

Yield 18 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

Cupcakes:
2 cups cake flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
4 large eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup finely grated lemon peel
Glaze and topping:
3/4 cup (or more) powdered sugar
3 tbsp unsalted butter
3 tbsp limoncello or other lemon liquer
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp freshly grated lemon peel
18 strawberries

Steps:

For cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 18 standard muffin cups with paper liners. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in dry ingredients in three additions alternately with buttermilk in two additions. Beat in lemon juice and lemon peel. Divide batter among liners. Bake cupcakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to racks. Meanwhile, prepare glaze and topping: Stir 3/4 cup powdered sugar, butter, limoncello, lemon juice and grated lemon peel in small saucepan over low heat until butter melts and glaze comes to simmer. Whisk in additional powdered sugar by tablespoonfuls if glaze is very thin. Spoon 1 tsp warm glaze over each warm cupcake. Cool cupcakes completely. Arrange 1 strawberry atop each cupcake. Drizzle remaining limoncello glaze over. Let cupcakes stand until glaze sets, about 2 hours.