Mini Lavender Cupcakes

It's cupcake day round 2! Yesterday I posted about these Blueberry Lemon cupcakes, but today is all about my Mini Lavender cupcakes. Ever since I made these White Chocolate Lavender Cookies last summer, I've had lavender desserts on my radar.

I despise the scent of lavender when it comes in the form of body lotion or candles, but put it in food and it's a whole other ball game. I even put it in my smoothie the other day.

I made these cupcakes in minis partially because everything is cuter in mini form and partially because I needed the batter to stretch farther than just 12 cupcakes. That being said you could easily adapt this recipe to make regular sized cupcakes.

Mini Lavender Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
yields 24 mini cupcakes of 12 regular

Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. dried lavender buds
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 eggs
1 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. milk

For the frosting:
1 block cream cheese, softened
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/3 cup powdered sugar, sifted
red and blue food coloring
lavender buds for decorating

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a mini cupcake pan with liners and set aside.

Put the sugar and the lavender buds in a food processor and process briefly to combine. Place the butter and lavender sugar into a bowl of an electric mixer. mix together until light and fluffy. Beat the eggs into the butter mixture, one at a time until fully combines. In a separate bowl sift in the dry ingredients then stir into the mixer. Stir in the milk.

Using a mini cookie scoop or rounded tablespoon, spoon the mixture into the paper liners. If making minis, bake for 9-10 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. If you are making regular sized cupcakes, bake for 18 minutes.

While the cupcakes are cooling, beat the cream cheese, butter and sifted powdered sugar together. Add two drops of red coloring and one of blue. Mix in the food coloring. Add more coloring, one drop at a time if you want it to be brighter. Frost your cupcakes and sprinkle a few extra lavender buds on top to decorate!