Lemon Angel Food Cupcakes

Sifting the flour mixture thoroughly three times incorporates the powdered sugar for a light, tender cupcake. Top with tiny edible pansy blossoms or rosebuds for decoration. Store extra cupcakes in an airtight container, or send them home with guests as party favors.

Yield: 16 cupcakes (serving size: 1 cupcake)

Ingredients

• Cupcakes:
• 1/2  cup  cake flour (about 2 ounces)
• 3/4  cup  powdered sugar
• 3/4  cup  egg whites (about 5 large eggs)
• 1/8  teaspoon  salt
• 3/4  teaspoon  cream of tartar
• 1/2  cup  granulated sugar
• 1/2  teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 2  teaspoons  grated lemon rind
• 
  Lemon Frosting:
• 1/4  cup  butter, softened
• 2  cups  powdered sugar
• 1  tablespoon  1% low-fat milk
• 1  to 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Edible flowers such as pansies or rosebuds (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.

Place 16 paper muffin cup liners in muffin cups. Set aside.

Lightly spoon cake flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Sift together flour and 3/4 cup powdered sugar into a medium bowl; repeat the procedure 2 times.

Beat egg whites and salt with a mixer at high speed until frothy (about 1 minute). Add cream of tartar, and beat until soft peaks form. Add 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. Sprinkle flour mixture over egg white mixture, 1/4 cup at a time; fold in after each addition. Stir in vanilla and rind.

Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Bake at 350° for 18 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from pan; let cool completely on a wire rack.

To prepare frosting, beat butter with a mixer at high speed until fluffy. Gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar; beat at low speed just until blended. Add milk and lemon juice; beat until fluffy. Add more lemon juice as needed to adjust the consistency. Spread 2 tablespoons lemon frosting over each cupcake. Garnish with edible pansies and rosebuds, if desired.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

144 (18% from fat)

Fat:

2.9g (sat 1.8g,mono 0.8g,poly 0.1g)

Protein:

1.6g

Carbohydrate:

28.9g

Fiber:

0.1g

Cholesterol:

8mg

Iron:

0.3mg

Sodium:

58mg

Calcium:

4mg