I know it sounds fancy: lavender-honey cupcakes. Or maybe it’s only fancy to me because I grew up on Jiffy’s blueberry muffin mix that my mom tried to pass off as cupcakes. Seriously, I don’t think I had a real cupcake until I was a teenager. A teenage discovery that I still celebrate today.
Now that we’ve closed that tangent, back to what’s at hand. Lavender isn’t something I’m fond of, in fact, I don’t like anything that is too floral in scent or flavor: ie. rose water, hibiscus, cherry blossoms. To that extent I don’t even wear perfume-can’t stand the stuff. And trust me, I’ve tried to like it. After years of trying many samples, I’ve never liked one past five minutes to purchase it.
But food is different. I will work with something I don’t personally like until I can work it into something I do like. Admittedly, it doesn’t always happen, but in this case it worked.
Hit the jump here to see the original Better Homes and Gardens’ Lavender-Honey Cupcake recipe and the tweaks I made to it—and which one was preferred by my tasting crew, a.k.a friends and neighbors.
Lastly as always, if I can please ask you guys–if you are going to pin any of the images please do so from Better Homes and Gardens and not here, since the recipe resides over there. Thanks!
Beautiful and I’m sure just as delicious!!!
My Child hood was complete oppposite, I never had box cake mix until I was well into my teens! My mother always made cake from the raw bless her heart.
These are beautiful and perfect for afternoon tea
These are stunning, Naomi! I love baking with fresh lavender.
beautiful pictures!!
I’ve been wanting to try using lavender in something sweet and baked, but just haven’t done it yet. I may be starting with these. Your images are just beautiful and inviting to make these cupcakes. Lovely!
Just beautiful!! Your photos never disappoint!!
Ohh wow, looks incredibly good. Lovely pics!!
I am also not a fan of floral flavours in my food so have given lavender a miss. I figure I need to give it a bash though too. :-). Love the small plates in this shot.
Beautiful, I love the lavender and honey combo!
I’m not a big floral scented person either, but I’m definitely willing to try! Love the look of these!
Nope, it’s totally elegant. Heading over now to check it out, because I actually have a bunch of lavender was given to me as a gift. 🙂
These are total baby-shower elegant treats. Light, floral and sweetened with honey, so dainty!
I am just like you and hate perfume. The stuff gives me a headache. These cupcake are stunning though and maybe if you like them I will too! They are too pretty not to try, plus I love honey!
Gorgeous photograph! The cupcakes look delicious 🙂
Ooooo. I think I am going to make these!
These look so pretty. Would be great for afternoon tea.
The photos are wonderful.
These cupcakes are gorgeous! I’ve never used lavender in my baking projects, on my to-do list. But so is learning how to shoot such beautiful photos!
Sounds and looks fancy all the way. It looks so perfect.
These are fancy. . but I love it! Great flavor combination. . can’t wait to try this!
these are stunning! beautiful pictures too, as always!
Amazing pictures! These look perfect 🙂
Where do you get your lavender? I can’t find it anywhere! These are lovely, by the way 🙂
Your photos always astonish me. Really I don’t know why I’m surprised, they’re always so creative! I don’t think I’ve ever had anything with lavender in it, but I would definitely give these cupcakes a try! They’re gorgeous!
What a coincidence! I had no idea of the BHG recipe, but I did a lavender honey sponge recently. So delicious! My pictures lacked though – you do beautiful work!
These came out beautifully for me. I used my own swiss meringue buttercream recipe, but the honey sponge cupcakes were wonderful–I had quite a few extra and I ate them with a touch of jam. No frosting necessary.
naomi, so beautiful… your styling is gorgeous… and the cupcakes sound and look delicious too! i remember in high school home economics class in grade 8 we had to make “muffins”, which consisted of a prepackaged dry mix with blueberry “nuggets” made of zero percent blueberries! let’s hope home ec class has evolved since the 1990s… ^__^
Gorgeous images and as lover of lavender I can’t wait to try this recipe.
These decadent cupcakes look delicious and elegant. I love the touch of lavender. I wouldn’t mind to bake them for a next tea party. Is there any tea that you would recommend with them? 🙂
You had me at lavender honey. We have a lavender farm here on Maui in the mountains, it is one of my favorite places to visit and I always buy a jar of lavender honey while I’m there.
I recently found out I’m allergic to wheat so I’m thinking it’s about time I start baking my own goodies with gluten free flour.
Hopping over from BYW and I LOVE your photos. Your composition is very original. I’m not a food blogger but you are already inspiring me to look at styling my shots in different ways.
Great photos! The look very delicious!