Lemon honey and ricotta cupcakes

Babiche Martens

Ingredients

125 g	Butter
1 tsp	Vanilla extract
½ cup	Self raising flour (Main)
½ cup	Caster sugar
¼ cup	Milk
½ cup	Ground almonds
2	Eggs
½ cup	Ricotta cheese (Main)

Lemon honey

50 g	Butter
¾ cup	Caster sugar
1 cup	Lemon juice (Main)
2 tsp	Lemon zest (Main)
2	Eggs, beaten

Caramelised lemon slices and icing

1 cup	Water
1 cup	Caster sugar
12 slices	Lemons, thin (Main)
1	Vanilla bean, split with seeds scraped out (Main)
1 tsp	Butter, softened
1 ½ cups	Icing sugar, sifted
1 Tbsp	Water, boiling, enough to make a spreadable icing

Directions

1. To caramelise the lemon slices, heat the cup of water and caster sugar in a heavy-based saucepan. Stir until the sugar has dissolved, then add the lemons. Simmer gently for 5 minutes, then remove the lemons to a plate, twisting into shape.
2. To make the lemon honey, melt the butter in the top of a double boiler. Add the sugar and juice, stirring until dissolved. Add the zest and eggs while continuing to stir. Cook until the mixture thickens, then remove from the heat and leave to cool.
3. Preheat oven to 180C. Line tins with paper cases or oil spray silicone cases. To make the cakes, cream the butter, vanilla and sugar until pale, then add the eggs one at a time, mixing well. Fold in the flour and almonds, alternating with the milk.
4. Spoon a little of the mixture into each case, then top with some ricotta and lemon honey. Top with more cupcake mix so the cases are full.
5. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden and cakes spring back when lightly touched.
6. Make vanilla icing by mixing together the sifted icing sugar with the teaspoon of softened butter, the vanilla seeds and the tablespoon of boiling water. Ice each cake then top a little lemon honey and a slice of caramelised lemon.