These are not quite as good as a real lemon meringue pie, in my opinion, but they are VERY good for a cupcake. I have filled my ones with shop-bought lemon curd so they are quick and easy to make. I love lemon and the thrill of the wee shiver from the sharpness and I love gooey, chewy meringue so I knew these would be a great choice.
I actually asked Adam (my 5 year old sous chef) to choose the recipe for me for this month's Random Recipes. Random Recipes is combined with Teatime Treats this month so I collected all my recipe books which were predominantly baking and asked Adam to select from them. I got The Primrose Bakery Book by Martha Swift and Lisa Thomas.
Adam then got to select the recipe. This choice wasn't so much random as something that caught his eye but as I had no say in what it would be, I thought it would still count.
To make these, use a basic cupcake recipe like this. Instead of the vanilla essence add a couple of teaspoons of finely grated lemon zest to the batter. Once the cupcakes are cooled, core out a hole from the top, fill the hole with lemon curd and replace the top. Prepare some basic meringue mixture like this one. Either put the mixture into a piping bag and pipe swirls on to the top of the cupcakes or just spoon the mixture on. Put into the oven at 160C/GM 3 for 15 minutes until slightly golden on top.
These cupcakes are a winner and I will definitely be making these again. I do, however, now have cravings for lemon meringue pie. I'm a bit scared of pastry but, hey, I can use shop bought!
I am submitting these for Random Recipes does Tea Time Treats which is hosted by:
Dom from Belleau Kitchen,
Karen from Lavender and Lovage,
and Kate from What Kate Baked.
Wow! They are just lovely to look at! I love the light brown crisped piping ... perfection! Worthy of a leisurely afternoon cuppa and a sweet knosh!
ReplyDeleteHee hee - yes, what more excuse would you need? :)
DeleteWhat an inventive idea, and that piping is spectacular. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Misky. The extra effort using the piping bag does make a difference.
DeleteWow, they look lovely - you've made me want to make these now! I love lemon merignue too so I'd love to find out how the cupcake version tastes. Great post :)
ReplyDeleteVery nice for a cupcake but I think the pie still wins by having the lovely crunch of the base.
DeleteI made ones similar to these for Pudsey last year Lou, I loved them, especially the meringue crunch on top! Might just have to make them again this year!!
ReplyDeleteOh excellent. You are a good soul!
DeleteLemon meringue is such a good combination and to have cake and portability as well - it's almost too good to be true. Delicious.
ReplyDeletePortability - fab word - and very important! :)
DeleteI have a powerful hankering for lemon meringue pie now! Don't be scared of pastry, it's not nearly as much of a big deal as they make it seem on GBBO!
ReplyDeleteI can make pastry which tastes okay - I'm just not so good at pretty presentation!!
DeleteI too am sacred of pastry but have been recomended and bought this book. Haven't yet actually made any...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Pastry-Savoury-Sweet-Michel-Roux/dp/1844008274/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348563376&sr=8-1
That looks good. But Michel Roux? That scares me even more!
Deleteyumm2! looking forward to your lemon meringue pies!
ReplyDeleteHa ha - I feel I am being challenged to master pastry and get on with making lemon meringue pies. Hmmmmm. Will I rise to the challenge?
DeleteI'll book mark them, they do look gooey and lovely.
ReplyDeleteThey were lovely.
Deletesorry sorry sorry!!!!!!!!... i don't know what happened, I thought I was doing so well and with the Linky tool in place I thought I wouldn't miss a thing... I am sorry... these are STUNNING, I mean just look at them, how could anyone forget these beauties... I ALWAYS love you taking part and I feel very special that you do... please forgive me... you are up on the round-up now xxx
ReplyDeleteWow, they look gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI was interested to see what recipe you used for the cakes. I have this book and confess I have never used it. I read so many bad reviews (on Amazon) about the basic vanilla cupcake recipe that I decided, even though it was a very generous and thoughtful gift from a colleague, to put it in the bag for the charity shop !! I think I will fish it out again and have another look !!
I don't think I have made much more from the book so can't really comment on how good the recipes are but that one worked fine. I may explore the book a bit more too.
DeleteIt's so cute!!
ReplyDeletexox
:D Thanks Manu.
DeleteThese look amazing, thanks so much for your luscious entry! Karen
ReplyDeleteThank you Karen.
DeleteThese look so good! Particularly the gooey meringue on top. I can't eat icing, as a general rule, but I can eat meringue - from now I think all cupcakes will be topped with it ;o)
ReplyDelete