I finally got my act together and made my cupcakes for the first Iron Cupcake: Earth challenge. Just to refresh your memory, Iron Cupcake: Earth is a cupcake challenge run by the Milwaukee Cupcake Queen at No One Puts Cupcake in a Corner and there are some wicked prizes including:

• A one of a kind piece of Cakespy artwork from Etsy artist Jessie Oleson.
• A luxury hostess apron from Jessie Steele Aprons.
• A Cupcake Courier.
• A new publication from Taste of Home Books.
• The complete line of HEADCHEFS from Fiesta Products.
• AND a copy of Hello Cupcake by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson.

So, you know, when it’s time to vote, go vote for me as I would love to get my hands on this awesome set of prizes.

Anyway, without further ado, I introduce to you……MY CUPCAKE!

Lime Cupcake with Chili, Lime and Tequila Cream Cheese Frosting

As you can see by reading the caption, it’s a lime cupcake with chili, lime and cream cheese frosting and it is delicious.

Recipe:

Makes about 15 cupcakes

Ingredients:

Cake:

225g (8 oz) unsalted butter, softened

225g (8 oz) caster sugar

225g (8 oz) self-raising flour

1 tsp baking powder

4 eggs

3 tbsp of lime extract (alternatively you could use fresh lime juice but unfortunately there was no limes in the supermarket when I went shopping)

Freshly ground black pepper

• Preheat oven to 180C and line a muffin pan.

• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and the sugar.
• Sift together the self-raising flour and the baking powder, add to the butter sugar mixture, and mix together until smooth and pale. If you’re using an electric mixer it should only take a few minutes.
• Add the lime extract and black pepper and mix.
• Fill muffin pan and bake for 18 – 20 minutes or until golden in colour.
• Allow to cool completely before decorating.

Frosting:

250g cream cheese, softened

5 cups icing sugar

5 tsp of lime extract

4 tsp of tequila (or more if you want)

4 tsp of dried chili flakes

• Sift the icing sugar into a large bowl.
• Add the cream cheese and stir until smooth.
• Add the lime extract, tequila and the chili flakes and mix until incorporated.
• Decorate the cupcakes!

These are delicious. The chili is not strong enough to overpower the lime flavour but it adds a certain warmth to the overall cake.

Voting starts at NOON August 31st at No One Puts Cupcake in a Corner so make sure you go vote for me! Don’t worry, I’ll post a reminder closer to the time so you don’t forget.