Occasionally we use yogurt as a base for our frosting recipes.  I love the tanginess, but it can get so runny that it slides off the cake.  And there’s very little fluff factor.  (This means that it’s hard to make yogurt the light, airy type of icing you’re looking for).  Cream cheese can achieve fluffiness, but it still somehow seems heavy when combined with certain cake flavors..

We liked this homemade lemon buttercream frosting recipe designed to top a rich lemon cake.   It is so bright-tasting and would make a welcome end to a winter meal.  The frosting includes a combination of heavy cream and butter which we think makes an ideal blend of fluffy and rich.  The lemon juice and zest also freshen it up.

Different cake or cupcake flavor options may include carrot, gingerbread or banana flavors.  Earl grey tea cake would be a nice cake for the more adventurous, and would really highlight the icing.  If making a layer cake, substitute fruit preserves for the frosting on alternating interior layers.  Garnish the cake with candied citrus peel, candied ginger, berries or other fresh fruit.

Lemon Frosting Recipe

1/2 pound unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg yolk (optional)
1 pound confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

In a standing mixer fitted with the whisk, beat the butter and egg yolk at medium-high speed until creamy. Beat in the sugar at low speed. Beat in the cream, vanilla and salt, then beat at medium-high speed until fluffy, 3 minutes longer. Beat in the zest and juice.

Cake recipe after the jump.

Cake with Lemon Frosting Recipe | Food & Wine.

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The lavender plant is not only used for its dried purple flowers in baking, but also in lavender honey, as an herb mix with goat cheese, or as part of a sweet syrup.  It can be added to shortbread, cheesecake, jams, cookies, ice cream or beverages like lemonade and loose teas. It has a sweet, floral flavor  and strong smell.  It can be very intense in both taste and aroma, so be careful when measuring the amounts. Dried lavender for culinary use can be found in most Whole Foods stores in several ounce bags.  You may also come across lavender oil but this is usually for therapeutic purposes.  Its aroma has a relaxing, soothing effect and is often used as aromatherpy during massage.

Feel free to adjust the amount of powdered sugar in this lemon icing recipe to suit your taste.  Lemon has a tendency to accentuate flavors, so you can a little at a time until you feel you’ve reached the right amount.  What we love about this recipe is the flecks of purple and yellow that appear in the frosting.  Also, you have the opportunity to garnish the cake or cupcake with fresh lavender blossoms.  What could be more beautiful for a spring wedding or anytime!

Lemon Lavender Frosting Recipe from the Oregon Louisiana Chef

• zest of 1 lemon
• 1/2 cup of softened butter
• 3-5 cups of powdered sugar
• 2-3 tbs of lavender flowers
• juice of one lemon
• dash of salt

“I creamed the butter with the zest, then added half the sugar, lavender flowers and the lemon juice. I mixed that, then added the rest of the sugar and the salt. Easy!!”

via Lemon Lavender Frosting – The Oregon Louisiana Chef.

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