ALMOND CITRUS CUPCAKE

Steps:

• For the cupcake batter: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners (for a total of 24 cupcakes); lightly spray the liners with cooking spray.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, mix together the cake flour, granulated sugar, almond meal, baking powder and salt. Add the butter and mix until crumbly in appearance, about 1 minute. Add the egg whites and whole egg and mix on medium until fluffy, about 1 minute. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the milk, orange juice, vanilla extract, almond extract and lemon zest. Mix approximately a third of the wet ingredients into the flour mixture. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl and beat for 1 minute on medium speed. Continue two more times with the remaining wet ingredients, beating for 1 minute between additions.
• Scoop one scoop of the batter into each cupcake liner. Bake until the cupcakes bounce back from gentle pressure, about 20 minutes. Remove from the pans and cool.
• For the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the cream cheese and butter on medium speed until completely combined and free of lumps, about 2 minutes. On the lowest speed, slowly add the confectioners' sugar and mix until combined, about 1 minute. Add the orange zest and juice, vanilla extract and salt and mix on medium speed until light and smooth, about 2 minutes.
• To assemble, frost the cooled cupcakes with the citrus frosting using a pastry bag fitted with a star tip.