It’s the Preakness, so it’s time for crab cakes and black eyed Susans.. You can find crab recipes on this blog, and now black eyed Susans in the form of cupcakes are here. Now, the black eyed Susan cocktail is bourbon, orange juice, lime, and lemon. Simple syrup and ice complete the drink, and all those flavors are in the cupcake. I also added elderflower to tie everything together. Now we all know my wife decorated these. To pretend otherwise would be folly. I hope you like it.

1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
1 teaspoon elderflower syrup (Erin’s Elderberries)
1 teaspoon elderflower liqueursA
1/2 cup orange tangerine juice plus 1 tablespoon
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon lime zest
1 egg

Frosting:

1 stick butter, softened
1 bar cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon elderflower liqueur or syrup
1 teaspoon lime zest
1 teaspoon lemon zest
4-5 cups powdered sugar
Yellow food coloring
1/2 cup canned chocolate frosting

Preheat oven to 350.

In bowl 1 add flour, baking powder, and salt.

In bowl 2 add orange juice, oil, elderflower liqueur, syrup, and egg.

Add bowl 2 to bowl 1 and whisk until combined.

Add batter to lined cupcake pans.

Bake for 16-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Let cool.

Mix cream cheese and butter until fully combined.

Add elderflower and salt.

Add zest.

Add powdered sugar one cup at a time until desired thickness for piping.

Add the food coloring to desired color.

Ask wife or competent decorator to finish them.

Walk away and wait until they are done.

Take photo.