With Easter just 5-days away, I wanted to test out a couple of dessert recipes to try. I knew I wanted to incorporate coconut, lemon, and lavender but didn’t know which one would be a better tasting combination. When it comes to light spring flavors, I’m drawn to lemon and lavender. So why not have them all?!
I decided to bake cupcakes instead of a cake. I baked the cupcakes in adorable easter baking cups (found at HomeGoods) and topped half the batch with freshly sweetened lemon curd whipped cream and the other half with lavender & vanilla whipped cream. For the finishing decorating touch, I garnished the lemon curd whipped cream cupcakes with Trader Joe’s sweetened dried lemon slices and for the lavender and vanilla whipped cream cupcakes, I sprinkled some French Blue Lavender.
For the cake recipe, I pulled out my favorite…Barefoot Contessa’s Coconut Cake recipe. As I was pulling out the baking ingredients, I found that I was out of baking powder – urgh!! So what’s a girl to do…head to the store to buy some or head to our pantry closet and pull out my Trader Joe’s Coconut Pancake Mix and use that for their coconut cake recipe! I tried it out once before and shared it in this post. The cupcakes turned out to be a bit dense in texture but still good and flavorful with the coconut pieces inside. If you prefer a lighter and moist texture, try Barefoot Contessa’s recipe. Either way, by adding the lemon and/or lavender sweetened whipped cream flavors, it’s DELICIOUS!!
LEMON CURD WHIPPED CREAM RECIPE
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Heavy Cream
- 1/2 cup Confectioners Sugar
- 1 /3 cup Lemon Curd (I used this one)
Directions
Whip all the ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or a hand mixer). Beat until firm but don’t overbeat.
***Note: for the lemon coconut cupcakes, I made a hole in the center of the cupcakes and piped the whipped cream from the hole on up to create a small round shape in the middle of the cupcake.
LAVENDER & VANILLA WHIPPED CREAM RECIPE
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Heavy Cream
- 1/2 cup Confectioners Sugar
- 1 Tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 Tsp. Lavender Extract
Directions
Whip all the ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or a hand mixer). Beat until firm but don’t overbeat.
There’s nothing sweet than a homemade dessert. These desserts are a perfect way to top off your Easter celebration or spring gathering!
For more dessert options, stop back for tomorrow’s post where I’ll be sharing a light and flavorful Cardamom Bread Pudding!
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