King Cake Cupcakes

Name: King Cake Cupcakes
Ingredients: Cupcakes:; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon baking soda; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 cup butter, softened; 3/4 cup white sugar; 2 tablespoons white sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste; 2 egg whites; 2/3 cup buttermilk; Cream Cheese Frosting:; 1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened; 1/4 cup butter, softened; 2 teaspoons lemon juice; 1 teaspoon lemon zest; 2 3/4 cups powdered sugar, or more as needed; Gold luster dust and green and purple sanding sugars

19 ingredients

6 steps

Ingredients

Cupcakes:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
2 egg whites
2/3 cup buttermilk
Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 3/4 cups powdered sugar, or more as needed
Gold luster dust and green and purple sanding sugars

Directions

1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper cup liners.
2

Stir together flour, baking powder, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Cream butter, 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer until well combined. Add egg whites, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately add half of the flour mixture, all the buttermilk, and remaining flour mixture, beating after each addition until just combined.
3

Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full, and smooth tops with the back of a spoon.
4

Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack, about 30 minutes.
5

Meanwhile, make frosting. Blend cream cheese, butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar to reach a spreading consistency.
6

Frost cooled cupcakes and decorate with luster dust and sanding sugars.