Lemon Cupcakes/Lemon Curd

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 granulated white sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Zest of 1 large lemon
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line 12 muffin cup with paper liners.
3. In a bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs (one at a time). Beat the vanilla extract and lemon zest.
4. In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Add the flour mixture and milk into the bowl with butter and sugar, in three additions, beginning and ending with flour.
6. Fill the muffin cups with the batter using 2 spoons.
7. Bake for about 18-20 minutes or until nicely browned. Remove
8. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
9. Once the cupcakes have cooled completely, cut a deep hole in the center of each cupcake (from the top) and fill each hole with a heaping teaspoon of lemon curd. *note: use either store bought lemon curd or homemade lemon curd (recipe below)

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Lemon Curd

3 large eggs
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (do not use the bottled lemon juice)
1 tablespoon finely shredded lemon zest
3/4 granulated white sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature

1. In a stainless steel bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water.
2. Whisk together the eggs, sugar, and lemon juice until blended.
3. Cool, stirring constantly (to prevent it from curdling), until mixture becomes think. *note: this will take about 10 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and immediately pour through a fine strainer to remove any lumps.
5. Cut the butter into small pieces and whisk into the mixture.
6. Add the lemon zest and let cool.
7. Lemon curd will continue to thicken as it cools. Cover immediately and refrigerate until cold.

Makes 12 cupcakes
*Recipe taken from Joy of Baking

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When filling the cupcakes with lemon curd, a lot of the lemon cupcake gets scooped out and put on the side. Use the scooped out cupcake crumbs and lemon curd to make a delectable dessert.