Grapefruit Cupcakes with Avocado Frosting



Citrus and avocado are a classic salad combination. I never used to like avocado (I always it was a pointless use of calories) until I tried the grapefruit and avocado salad at a local restaurant. I can no longer remember the name of the restaurant, but I can remember the beauty of grapefruit segments, thin slices of avocado, pink sea salt and a hint of lemon zest.

When trying to create a completely original cupcake idea, I thought of this salad. I thought of just how it changed my opinion of avocado and what an amazing combination this would be, especially when topped with a little pink sea salt.

The cupcakes had a perfect texture. They were dense, but still quite moist and tasted strongly like a grapefruit creamsicle. The avocado was not overpowering and neither was the salt, but provided a complexity for the grapefruit to play against. It was sweet and salty and bitter all at the same time. At first it was a confusing assault on my taste buds, but after the initial bite, it became quite enjoyable.

Grapefruit Cupcakes (makes 24)
Ingredients
  • 2 cups (8.5 oz) all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 Tbsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 4 Tbsp packed grapefruit zest (about 2 grapefruits)
  • 1 cup less 3 Tbsp lowfat greek yogurt
  • 3 Tbsp grapefruit juice
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt
  2. In separate bowl, cream butter. Add grapefruit zest and sugar, beating until light and fluffy
  3. Add eggs one at a time, beating until incorporated
  4. Add half the flour mixture, mixing until just incorporate.
  5. Add vanilla, yogurt and grapefruit juice, mixing until incorporated. Finish with the remaining flour mixture.
  6. Spoon into prepared muffin cups and bake for 10-15 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean
  7. Let cool completely before frosting.

Avocado Frosting
Ingredients
  • 4 oz ripe avocado meat (about 1 large avocado
  • 1 tsp lemon or lime juice
  • 8 oz powdered sugar
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla (optional, depending on if you want a stronger citrus flavor)
Directions
  1. Beat avocado with lemon or lime juice with electric mixer until creamy.
  2. Add sugar and beat until smooth
  3. Frost cupcakes and garnish with a little sea salt

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