Chocolate Castles as wel

Can you tell I’m loving the new Fall Baking magazine? If you see one at your grocery store, you really should pick one up. It has just a bunch of fabulous recipes. These almond cupcakes are so good and finish off beautifully with a great buttercream frosting.(NO…you cannot use store bought frosting, this time I will tell on you)

1 1/3 cups all purpose flour

1/4 cup finely ground almonds

1/2 teas baking powder

1/2 teas baking soda

1/4 teas salt

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

1/2 teas almond extract

1/2 teas vanilla

1 cup whole buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, almonds, baking powder, baking soda and salt, whisking to combine well. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add egg and extracts, beating until smooth. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture in thirds, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture and beating one medium speed until well combined. Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups.

Bake until cupcakes tests done (about 15-18 minutes)

Let cool for 30 min. Remove from the pan and let cool completely on wire rack but out of drafts (to avoid becoming dry)

Frost with frosting and chopped almonds, if desired.

Frosting

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and seeds scraped and reserved

In a large bowl, beat butter with mixer at high speed until creamy. Add powdered sugar,1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Add cream and beat until smooth. Add vanilla seeds (or 1 teas vanilla extract OR 1/2 teas almond extract and 1/2 teas vanilla)