Ever since a certain royal wedding cake, lemon and elderflower has sky rocketed in popularity. These Lemon & Elderflower Cupcakes are a simple, but by no means less delicious way, to enjoy this delightful cake flavour. The elderflower cordial I've used in these cupcakes, along with the hint of lemon, is very delicate and would be perfect to enjoy with a glass of elderflower cordial and sparkling water! These cupcakes would also be great at a party, a wedding of course, or afternoon tea.
How to make Lemon & Elderflower Cupcakes
Start by mixing together butter and caster sugar. Then add the lemon zest and mix it in.
Next whisk in the elderflower cordial and eggs. Finally fold in self raising flour.
Divide the batter between the cases and bake them for 20-25 minutes.
To make the white fondant flower decorations I used a flower cutter and veiner tool. Check the recommened equipment section for a link!
I set the flowers onto some crinkled up baking paper to dry out.
What is elderflower?
Elderflower are the flowers of the elder tree, they have a light and floral taste and are found throughout the UK in woodland. Elderflowers are in season from late May to mid June. They are clusters of tiny white flowers with a sweet and summery scent, and they look very pretty! Elderflowers are actually midly toxic, but this is removed once the flowers are cooked (for example when turning them into cordial) and they do have medicial applications too.
How long do the cupcakes last and can they be frozen?
The cupcakes will last for 3 days in an airtight container in a cool place. You can freeze both the cupcakes and the buttercream. To freeze them separately, wrap the cupcakes well in cling film or put them in an airtight container. The buttercream can be frozen in a sealed tub. To freeze them decorated, freeze the cupcakes on a plate until frozen solid, then carefully wrap in cling film. Remove the clingfilm when you take the cupcakes out of the freezer to defrost, as if they defrost with it still on it could damage the buttercream. Do not freeze the fondant flowers.
Tips for making the Lemon & Elderflower Cupcakes:
- If you don't want to decorate the cupcakes with the fondant flowers I have used, you could also decorate them with sprinkles, some lemon zest, shop bought sugar or wafer flowers, or edible flowers.
- I used a Wilton 1M piping tip to pipe the buttercream onto these cupcakes.
- I used elderflower cordial by the brand Belvoir to make these cupcakes.
Recommended equipment & ingredients*
- Cupcake tin
- Cooling rack
- Electric hand mixer
- Piping bags
- Zester
- Silicone rolling pin
- Flower cutter & press
- Wilton 1M Piping nozzle
- Lemon extract
- White fondant
- Silicone mat
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More Lemon & Elderflower recipes...
Lemon & Elderflower Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the sponge
- 175 g Butter or baking spread
- 175 g Caster sugar
- 2 tbsp Elderflower cordial
- 1 Lemon (zest only)
- 3 Eggs large
- 175 g Self raising flour
For the buttercream
- 500 g Icing sugar
- 200 g Butter
- 2 tbsp Elderflower cordial
- 1 tsp Lemon extract
For decoration (optional)
- 100 g White fondant
Instructions
- If you are making the flower decorations, make them several hours in advance or the day before as they need to dry out
- Use a silicone rolling pin to roll out the white fondant onto a surface dusted with icing sugar, then use a cutter to cut out the flower shape
- Then use the silicone mould to shape and vein the flower. Leave it to dry on some crumpled up baking paper (or a foam drying tray if you have one)
- Pre-heat your oven to 160C Fan/180C/350F/Gas Mark 4, line a cupcake tin with paper cases
- Mix together the butter and the caster sugar, ideally using an electric mixer until fluffy
- Add the elderflower cordial, lemon zest, and eggs and whisk in
- Gently whisk in the self raising flour
- Divide between the paper cases and bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool completely
- Make the buttercream by mixing the icing sugar and butter together using an electric mixer, when it starts to come together add the elderflower cordial and lemon zest and keep mixing until smooth. If the buttercream is too stiff then you can add a little milk to it
- Pipe or spread it onto the cupcakes and add the fondant flowers. You could also decorate them with sprinkles, wafer flowers, lemon zest
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in a cool place and eat within 3 days
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Those are such pretty cupcakes Kat - such perfect floral decorations
Kat BakingExplorer
Thank you Kate!
Kate Glutenfreealchemist
What very professional looking cupcakes! They sound delicately flavoured and quite delicious. Loving the little flower press...... how cool is that?
Kat BakingExplorer
Thanks Kate! I know I am so impressed with the flower press, it did all the hard work for me!
Emma
These look tasty! 🙂 Love the pressed flowers, they really make the cakes look pretty.
Kat BakingExplorer
Thanks Emma! I was very pleased with my new flower making gadget 🙂
Stuart Vettese
I have never had elderflower in cakes Kat, something I must rectify. These look delicious.
Kim
The cakes look beautiful and what a fab cutter, might have to get my hands on one of those.
Kat BakingExplorer
It's such a cool gadget, the link to grab one of your own is in the post, I highly recommened them!
Justine
Hi there! Love these sweet beauties. May I ask what brand of elderflower cordial is best to use for these?
thebakingexplorer
Thank you! I used Belvoir, but there are a few brands available you could try 🙂
Belinda
Delicious cupcakes and the buttercream was a dream consistency. Also purchased the flower press which was so quick & easy to use!!
thebakingexplorer
Thanks so much for your lovely feedback Belinda! And thank you for sharing a photo of your cupcakes on Instagram - they really are stunning!
Angela Phillips
Hello there. Could I use lemon extract in cakes and buttercream instead of lemon zest as I'm not keen. These cakes look amazing by the way.
thebakingexplorer
Hi Angela, yes of course you can use lemon extract instead of lemon zest in the sponge. I never use lemon zest in buttercream as it's not very effective, so I would always recommend lemon extract for buttercream 🙂
Angela Phillips
Lovely recipe, taste delicious. Will definitely make these again. Thankyou. Xx
Nicola
Is there a gluten free flour you would recommend for these please? And would I need to add anything else to the recipe?
Thank you!x
thebakingexplorer
Hi Nicola, I am not experienced with gluten free baking, but many GF flour blends say on the packet if you need to add anything extra (usually additional liquid) so check the pack for the one you choose. I hope you enjoy the cupcakes!
Tina
I followed the receipe as stated and the mixture was lovely consistency, they baked lovely then soon as I took them out they sank and didn't look appealing. Apart from this they tasted ok just not sure if it;s the cordial?
thebakingexplorer
Hi Tina, there are a few reasons cupcakes can sink: mis-measuring ingredients, the raising agent being out of date, oven too hot or not hot enough, the batter being over mixed, taking them out of the oven before they're fully baked or changing the recipe. Hopefully this will help you to figure out what went wrong!