Lemon Meringue Cupcake

Ingredients:

Cupcakes:

• 250ml /1 cup pure cream
• 220g /1 cup caster sugar
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 225g/ 1 1/2 cups self raising flour
• Finely grated rind of 1 lemon

Lemon curd:

• 125ml/ 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 100g butter
• 110g/ 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 1 egg
• 3 egg yolks

Meringue:

• 3 egg whites
• 110g/ 1/2 cup caster sugar

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 180′C. Place 12 patty cake liners in a 12 hole 1/2-cup capacity muffin pan.

2. Place cream, sugar and eggs in a large mixing bowl and whisk until smooth. Gradually add flour and zest and continue whisking until mixture is thick and smooth.

3. Divide mixture between prepared liners and bake for 15-20 minutes or until cakes spring back to touch. Cool in muffin pan.

4. For lemon curd, heat lemon juice and butter in a small saucepan and simmer until butter has melted. Add sugar, egg and yolks and cook, whisking continuously until mixture becomes thick and glossy. Pour into a shallow oven tray to cool.

5. For meringue, beat egg whites in an electric mixer until firm peaks form, gradually add sugar, a tablespoon at a time, beating until sugar has dissolved between each addition. Spoon meringue mixture into a piping bag.

6. To serve, preheat grill to medium-high. Cut a small hole in the top of each cupcake and fill with 1-2 teaspoons of lemon curd. Pipe a swirl of meringue mixture on the top of each cupcake and place under heated grill for 60-90 seconds or until golden. Arrange on a serving plate with spoonfuls of lemon curd if desired.