Eric Lanlard's key lime cupcakes recipe

• 2 unwaxed limes
• 100 g (3.5oz) caster sugar, plus more for coating
• 175 g (6.2oz) unsalted butter, softened
• 300 g (10.6oz) caster sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 lime, grated zest and 4 tbsp juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 300 g (10.6oz) plain flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 360 ml (12.7fl oz) buttermilk
• 30 g (1.1oz) icing sugar
• 1.5 limes
• 200 g (7.1oz) white chocolate
• 125 ml (4.4fl oz) whipping cream
• 175 g (6.2oz) unslated butter, softened
• 350 g (12.3oz) icing sugar
• 1 lime, grated zest and half the juice

1. To make the crystalized lime peel; Using a vegetable peeler, pare the rind from each lime, then carefully cut it into thin strips.
2. Put the icing sugar and 100ml (3 1/2fl oz) water in a pan and bring to the boil, stirring.
3. Once bubbling, add one-third of the lime peel and cook for 3-4 minutes.
4. Remove the strips, roll them gently in caster sugar and lay them on greaseproof paper.
5. (Don't arrange them on top of each other or they will stick together.)
6. Repeat with the remaining peel and, once all cooked, leave to dry overnight.
7. To make 12 cupcakes; Preheat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/ gas mark 4, and line a cupcake tin with paper cases.
8. Using an electric mixer cream the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.
9. Add the eggs, slowly, one at the time.
10. Then add the lime zest and juice, and the vanilla extract.
11. In another bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder.
12. Gradually add this to the butter mixture with alternate spoonfuls of buttermilk.
13. Divide the mixture between the paper cases and bake for 25-30 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the centre of a cupcake comes out clean.
14. Leave to cool in the tins for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
15. To make the lime syrup; Dissolve the icing sugar in the squeezed juice of the limes and set to one side until the cupcakes have cooled and are ready.
16. Once the cupcakes have cooled, use a cocktail stick, insert small holes all over the surface of each cupcake, then spoon a teaspoon of lime syrup and allow it to soak through.
17. To make the frosting: Put the chocolate and cream in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water making sure the bowl does not touch the surface of the water.
18. Heat until the chocolate is melted.
19. Allow to cool completely.
20. Then whisk in the butter, lime zest, juice, and icing sugar.
21. When smooth, use a piping bag to pipe the frosting onto each cake, and decorate with a few strands of crystallized lime peel.

unwaxed limes, caster sugar, caster sugar, eggs, lime, vanilla, flour, baking powder, buttermilk, icing sugar, limes, white chocolate, whipping cream, icing sugar, lime

Taken from www.lovefood.com/guide/recipes/12288/eric-lanlards-key-lime-cupcakes (may not work)