Lemon poppy seed cupcakes

These buttery cup cakes will keep for 2-3 days in an airtight container.

Ingredients

150 g	Butter, softened
¾ cup	Caster sugar
1 cup	Self raising flour
½ tsp	Baking powder
3 large	Eggs, beaten
¼ cup	Ground almonds
1 tsp	Poppy seeds (Main)
1 Tbsp	Milk, at room temperature
2	Lemons, finely grated zest (Main)

Icing

2 cups	Icing sugar
3 Tbsp	Lemon juice, strained (Main)
1 sprinkle	Poppy seeds
1	Lemon, rind pared and cut into shreds, blanched (Main)

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 190C. Line with paper muffin or cup cake cases a 12-hole muffin tray.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and caster sugar until light and creamy. Sift together the flour and baking powder. Turn mixer to low speed, add the eggs then the flour and baking powder, ground almonds, poppy seeds and milk. Mix to just combine. Remove from the mixer and add the lemon zest and fold in.
3. Spoon the mixture into the cases and smooth the tops with your fingertips. Place in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until firm to the touch and well browned. Remove from the oven and place each cup cake on a wire rack to cool.
4. Make the icing, sift the icing sugar into a bowl and mix in enough lemon juice to make a spreadable icing. Spoon a teaspoonful over each cup cake and spread to the edges with a small spatula. Decorate tops with poppy seeds and lemon shreds.

See more of Kathy's simple baking recipes

• Luscious lemon tart
• Raspberry and passionfruit syrup