Fluffy Lemon-Rosemary Cupcakes

So I'm staring out the New Year with the promise to post something at least twice a month! Living with someone that (A) doesn't like sweets and (B) only eats once a day makes it difficult to whip up an amazing meal. But now my co-workers will be happy!

So let me begin!

For the dried goods!

• 2 1/2 Cups Flour 
• 1 1/2 Cups Sugar
• 1 1/4 tsp Baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp salt

• 6 large egg yolks
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extract 

• 10 tbsp butter (softened)
• 1 1/12 tbsp lemon zest
• 1 tbsp rosemary

Preheat oven to 350F. 

In a large bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 1 1/2 cups sugar. In another bowl whisk together the melted butter, buttermilk, oil, vanilla, lemon zest, rosemary and egg yolks.

Add flour mixture to the empty stand mixer bowl fitted with whisk attachment. With mixer running at low speed, gradually pour in butter mixture and mix for about 10 seconds. Stop mixer and thoroughly scrape down the bowl. Mix again on medium for 20 more seconds just until combined.

Fill cupcake pans with cupcake liners and fill about 3/4 full of batter

 Bake on the center rack in the oven at 350F for 20-25 minutes, rotating halfway through. Around the 20 minute mark stick with a tooth pick. If clean pull them out! if not leave them for another 5 minutes.

Cool cakes in pans or on wire rack for 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely (about 1 more hour) before frosting.

For the frosting I tried something new!

Ingredients:

• 8 oz 1/3 fat Philadelphia Cream Cheese
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

1. First cream the cream cheese. You want to make sure there are no bumps or you'll have chunks of cream cheese in your frosting!

2. Add in your vanilla extract. Be sure to scrape the sides of your bowl so the extract can get all up in your cream cheese!

3. Add in the powdered sugar! It should take long for it all to combine!

This frosting isn't as thick as normal cream cheese frosting but it still tastes good and its a little bit better for you. I put in in the fridge for and hour just to harden it up before I iced it! 

And there ya have it!