Ohhh, Valentine’s Day is here. Time for hearts. Hearts everywhere. Heart-shaped everything! And of course, here that includes… cupcakes.
I go batty for holidays ’round these here parts, in case you didn’t know notice.
These particular little cupcakes are inspired by Linzer tarts, or Linzer tortes. In America, you low them as the cookies with a hole cut out of the top piece… its filled with a red or pink colored jam or jelly and dusted with confectioner’s sugar. However in Austria those are considered Linzer sablés (Linzer Augen or “linzer eyes”). They’re also a riff on the cupcakes I posted last year; which were chocolate cupcakes filled with pink frosting, all in a heart-shape.
There are a few ways of doing this neat little heart-shaped hole trick, but I just use the method I find easiest: I push the cutter down into the middle of the completely cooled (preferably refrigerated for a few hours) cupcake. After some wiggling, the heart-shaped piece should pop out when you remove the cookie cutter. Another way: cut the top of the cupcake off, add a layer of jam, then cut the hole out of the top and stick it back on.
Whatever way you choose, the end result is adorable. And sweet.
VANILLA-LEMON CUPCAKES
Makes about 12 cupcakes
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2/3 cup granulated white sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 large lemon, finely chopped
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup whole milk
Directions:
- Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract and lemon zest.
- In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to the butter and egg mixture, along with the milk, and beat until combined.
- Evenly fill the muffin cups with the batter and bake for about 18-20 minutes or until nicely browned and a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
The cupcakes have lemon in them, reflecting the fact that traditional Linzer tortes/tarts have a bit of lemon flavor. If you’d like to remove the lemon, you can. And you can definitely use store-bought jam or jelly if you don’t preserve your own/can’t or won’t make your own. Any red colored jam works; raspberry, strawberry, cherry, etc.
But if you decide to try making your own, here’s an easy strawberry recipe that doesn’t require canning.
VANILLA-STRAWBERRY JAM
Ingredients:
- 4 cups fresh strawberries, washed & hulled (a little over a pound, depending on the size of the berries)
- 1 vanilla bean
- 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon bottled lemon juice
Directions:
- Slice the strawberries & using a potato masher or your (clean) fingers, mash & squish them together. If this doesn’t work, and the berries are too firm, cut them smaller.
- Place the strawberries in a large saucepan. Split and scrape the vanilla bean, adding the seeds to the berries. Add the empty vanilla bean along with the 1/2 cup sugar & lemon juice, stirring & cooking over medium-high heat, breaking up any large chunks of berry with a wooden spoon.
- Cook until it thickens and you can see the bottom of the pan when you stir, roughly 10 minutes.
- Remove the vanilla bean with tongs and add the jam to your clean, warm jars. You aren’t canning this so just make sure the jars are cool before refrigerating them.
Like I said last year, this idea can be used in a zillion different ways. You can fill the cakes with lemon curd or raspberry curd, too. You can use almost any shape cookie cutter, any flavor cupcakes, etc.
I'm Marilla. A 30-something artist, hobby baker, home canning enthusiast, gardener, DIY-er, wife, mommy of a baby boy and dog mom (to another baby boy) from New York. 
Thanks for every other informative web site. The place else could I am getting that kind of info written in such a perfect approach?
I’ve a challenge that I am just now operating on, and I’ve been at the
glance out for such information.
Great post. I’m dealing with many of these issues as well..
It’s remarkable to visit this site and reading the views of all colleagues on the topic of this
article, while I am also eager of getting familiarity.
Hmm it looks like your blog ate my first comment (it was
super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I submitted and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog.
I too am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to
the whole thing. Do you have any tips for first-time blog writers?
I’d genuinely appreciate it.
Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on sites
I stumbleupon everyday. It’s always exciting to read through content from other authors and use a little something from their sites.
Yesterday, while I was at work, my sister stole my apple
ipad and tested to see if it can survive a thirty foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now
destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this
is entirely off topic but I had to share it with
someone!
I do trust all of the ideas you’ve offered on your post.
They’re very convincing and can certainly work. Nonetheless,
the posts are too brief for novices. May just you please extend them a bit from next time?
Thank you for the post.
I am really delighted to glance at this blog posts which contains tons
of useful facts, thanks for providing such data.
What’s up everybody, here every one is sharing such know-how,
thus it’s fastidious to read this blog, and I used to visit this web site all the time.
Just a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw great style.
Hello, i feel that i saw you visited my web site so i came to return the
want?.I’m trying to find things to improve my web site!I
assume its good enough to make use of some of your concepts!!
I have been surfing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any attention-grabbing
article like yours. It is beautiful value enough for me.
In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made just right content
as you did, the web will likely be much more helpful than ever before.
Please let me know if you’re looking for a article author for your
weblog. You have some really great posts and I believe I would be a
good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d love to write some material for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine.
Please blast me an email if interested. Regards!
A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment.
I believe that you should publish more about this issue,
it might not be a taboo matter but usually people don’t talk about these topics.
To the next! Kind regards!!
What’s up to every one, the contents present at this
site are actually amazing for people knowledge, well, keep up the good
work fellows.
I got this site from my buddy who shared with me concerning this site and at the moment this time I am visiting
this web site and reading very informative articles here.
I do trust all of the ideas you’ve introduced in your post.
They are very convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are too quick for
beginners. Could you please lengthen them a bit from next time?
Thanks for the post.
Wonderful blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News.
Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
Many thanks
Nice respond in return of this query with firm arguments and explaining the whole thing on the topic of that.
I’m excited to find this great site. I wanted to thank you
for ones time just for this wonderful read!! I definitely liked every
bit of it and i also have you saved to fav to see new things in your site.