Description
These elegant cupcakes feature a velvety pound cake base with a hidden heart of sweet peach preserves and a tangy cream cheese frosting. Finished with golden honey and fresh fruit, they offer a sophisticated Mediterranean-inspired twist on a classic dessert.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup peach preserves
- 8 oz full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 cup fresh peaches, diced
- 3 tablespoons golden honey
- 1 tablespoon sugar crystals
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until aerated and uniform.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until the mixture is pale and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Alternately add the dry mixture and buttermilk to the butter base, starting and ending with the flour, and mix until just combined.
- Spoon the batter into the liners until halfway full, place a teaspoon of peach preserves in the center, and cover with more batter until three-quarters full.
- Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until golden, then let rest for five minutes in the tin before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk together until smooth and spreadable to create the frosting.
- Frost each cooled cupcake, then garnish with diced fresh peaches, a drizzle of honey, and a sprinkle of sugar crystals.
Notes
For the smoothest frosting, ensure your cream cheese is at true room temperature before mixing to prevent small lumps. If you prefer a more intense fruit flavor, you can lightly brush the tops of the warm cupcakes with a thin layer of warmed honey before they cool to lock in extra moisture.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean