Yayyyy! It’s a Surprise Baby Shower for my good friend Lisa of Wine & Glue…..and I’m sharing these delicious strawberry-orange Sunrise Cupcakes!
So have I mentioned that my good friend Lisa is pregnant….or that our due dates are exactly 2 weeks apart….or that this is the second time we’ve been pregnant together and due right around the same time….? Well, she is! And she has officially made it to the home stretch, with just 4 weeks to go. Time for a baby shower!!! A group of her best bloggy friends and I have gotten together to throw her one heck of a shower, and I couldn’t be more excited to help her celebrate!
One of my favorite recipes of Lisa’s is her Sunset Sangria. We’ve shared a pitcher of it on many occasions….and as I thought about what I’d want to bring to her baby shower, I couldn’t help but think of this sangria. (Sounds funny, I know. Baby showers and sangria don’t normally go together!) But that’s because I’m thinking more about the “sunset” part of it. See, Lisa has had some pretty big sunsets in her life….and for some reason, they have seemed to go hand in hand with pregnancy. Six years ago, when she gave birth to her first son Gavin, her mom passed away on the very same day. And 3 years ago, when her second son Elliot was born, he survived just 1 week before they had to say goodbye. (You can read more about Lisa’s mom here and more about Elliot’s story here.)
A year later, Lisa gave birth to a healthy baby girl….little Quinn, who is now two. Thankfully, Quinn’s birth day was uneventful….which was exactly what we were all hoping for. A sunrise, instead of a sunset.
Have you ever thought about the fact that the colors of a sunrise and a sunset are basically the same? That you almost can’t think of one without being reminded of the other? The same is true of life’s sunrises and sunset. Which means that this has not been an easy pregnancy for Lisa. But. Today we celebrate the fact that she is almost at the end of the road, and there is a beautiful sunrise on the horizon!
So…Sunrise Cupcakes. Inspired by Lisa’s Sunset Sangria, but even more so by Lisa, herself. Because through it all, she has kept on going. She has kept on living and creating and loving. And she has kept on hoping and believing….which isn’t always an easy thing to do. So cheers to you, Lisa….and to your newest little sunrise. I can’t WAIT to meet her.
Sunrise Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 c. sugar
- 1/2 c. canola oil
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- zest of 1 medium navel orange
- 1/2 c. plain Greek yogurt
Orange Curd
- 2 medium navel oranges
- 1/2 tsp. orange extract
- 1 1/2 c. sugar
- 8 egg yolks beaten
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1/8 tsp. kosher salt
Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
- 1/2 c. unsalted butter
- 1 c. sliced strawberries
- 3 1/2 - 4 c. powdered sugar
- 1 orange for garnish
- 4 strawberries for garnish
Instructions
Cupcakes
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Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
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In a large bowl, beat the egg, yolk, and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed, about 2 minutes.
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Mix in the oil, vanilla, and orange zest.
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Mix in the Greek yogurt.
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Mix in the flour mixture until fully incorporated.
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Divide into 12 cupcake tins; bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes.
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Remove from oven and cool completely.
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Once cupcakes are completely cooled, use a cupcake corer to remove a small piece of cake from the top of each. Fill with orange curd.
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Decorate with strawberry buttercream frosting.
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Just before serving, top with orange and strawberry wedges.
Orange Curd
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Zest oranges, then cut them in half and squeeze to juice them.
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Combine orange zest and juice (about 1/2 c.) in a medium saucepan. Add sugar and cook over medium heat until mixture begins to simmer.
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Add egg yolks, butter (cut in pieces), and kosher salt.
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Continue cooking and whisking over medium heat until mixture starts to boil.
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Boil, stirring constantly, until mixture reaches desired consistency, about 3-4 minutes. (Should be thick)
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Remove from heat and cool to room temperature before using to fill cupcakes.
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Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
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Puree strawberries using a food processor.
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Transfer to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring often, until strawberries have cooked down halfway.
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Set aside to cool.
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In a medium mixing bowl, cream butter. Add cooled strawberry puree, mixing to combine.
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Gradually add powdered sugar until you reach desired consistency.
Please join us in celebrating a virtual baby shower for Lisa of Wine and Glue!!
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[email protected]+Wine+&+Glue says
Okay. I’m crying. Thank you so much Cathy. This was such an overwhelming surprise to wake up to this morning. I LOVE these cupcakes, but I love what you had to say about them even more. And you are in the home stretch too!! Just a few more short weeks and we can enjoy these cupcakes AND my sangria together! You are a great friend my dear.
Heather @ French Press says
AMAZING! I love the filling, and they just look SO cheery, just like Lisa
Roxy says
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Meaghan+Voigt says
Beautifully written, Cathy! Such sweet sentiment for sweet Lisa!
The cupcakes look AMAZING…need to get myself a cupcake corer, now!
Jess says
Wow, Lisa has such a story, I will read more about her dear Elliot for certain. I’m so happy that her 3rd birth was I eventful and that another blessed arrival is only weeks away! These cupcakes look delicious and love that sunrise theme! Very special Cathy and congrats to Lisa! 🙂
Monet says
These are gorgeous. We are having our first beautiful week of Spring, so these seem all the more fitting.
Ashton says
This is such a beautiful post! I love that you two are so close. And these cupcakes look UNREAL!
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting says
Wow! These cupcakes are so gorgeous!!
[email protected]+in+the+Kitchen says
These are just GORGEOUS Cathy!!!
[email protected]+in+the+Kitchen says
I know I am replying to my own comment, but I posted the first after just looking at the cupcakes and then went back and read the post……I am all choked up from Lisa’s story! I think your tribute to her was just beautiful and inspiring Cathy. Life IS full of sunsets and sunrises and I’m so impressed with your story of how Lisa has managed to keep her positive attitude through out.
I can tell that you are a good friend to her! By the way, congrats on your own upcoming sunrise!! 🙂
[email protected]+Love+Bakes+Good+Cakes says
Ok – so I drooled over these on Facebook, but I am just now getting the chance to come over and read the post! What a great post (and surprise for Lisa!), Cathy …. it made me tear up a bit! I love these cupcakes, and the story behind them makes them that much more special! Hugs to you both!
Julie @ Lovely Little Kitchen says
These are so bright and cheerful! And WOW, that frosting, I could eat the whole bowl! Pinned :0)
[email protected]+Foodie+Mama says
Such a beautiful tribute to Lisa, Cathy! <3 Her story always moves me to tears. And these cupcakes are GORGEOUS! Pinned & sharing. 🙂
Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats says
Wow what a post Cathy and so so true. Lisa is such a lovely person we are blessed to have her sunshine in her life! Let’s go for another uneventful birth day!
Crystelle says
Oh my! These cupcakes look like little pieces of art!!!
Pinning!! Happy Easter to you and yours…. 🙂
“hugs” Crystelle
Crystelle Boutique
Katie @ Little House of Four says
These cupcakes look amazing!!! I’m pinning to try them later!
Rhiannon says
These look so good! If it wasn’t almost midnight, I just might go in the kitchen and make them now 🙂 Best wishes to both of you and your new bundles!!
meeting women says
I couldn’t refrain from commenting. Exceptionally well written!
Julie says
These look so pretty and I bet they tastes even better! I love that they have yogurt in them. Pinned!
christy e says
I made these for the teenagers at church. They where AMAZING! My 15 year old son said they where the best cupcakes I’ve ever made. I also tried it with some store bought lemon curd and that was really good too. Thank you for your wonderful recipe. 🙂