acai berry superfood

Kayla from Vogue Magazine is our superfood guru. She created this exotic, fruity cupcake recipe with all the benefits of the Acai berry. The Acai palm tree is cultivated for its fruit, which looks almost like a grape but is deep purple in colour. It is said to be filled with antioxidants and is used frequently in superfood smoothies!

• 250 g/2 cups self-rising flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• a pinch of salt
• 125 g/1 stick butter, cubed and soft
• 200 g/1 cup (caster) sugar
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• grated zest of ½ lemon
• 3 eggs
• 100 ml/⅓ cup single/ light cream
• 140 g/5 oz. açai berry pulp
• blueberries, to decorate
• edible glitter, to dust

ACAI BERRY CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

• 80 g/5½ tablespoons butter, cubed and soft
• 360 g/2⅔ cups icing/ confectioners’ sugar
• 150 g/5 oz. cream cheese
• 30 g açai berry pulp

muffin pan lined with 12 muffin cases

makeS 12

Preheat the oven to 180˚C/350˚F/ Gas 4.

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.

Put the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl and beat with an electric hand mixer until pale and fluffy. Stop occasionally to scrape down the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the lemon juice and zest. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Pour in one third of the sifted dry ingredients and beat on low speed. Add half the cream and beat well. Repeat this process, then finish with the last third of the dry ingredients. Finally, fold in the açai berry pulp.

Divide the mixture between the muffin cases. Bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes or until well risen and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.

ACAI BERRY CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

While the cupcakes are cooling down, make the açai berry cream cheese frosting.

Put the butter in a bowl and beat with an electric hand mixer on high speed until until pale and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. Gradually sift in the sugar and beat until well mixed. Stop occasionally to scrape down the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the cream cheese and beat in. Finally, gently fold in the açai berry pulp until combined. Don’t worry if the frosting looks runny – refrigerate for at least 1 hour, until firm enough to pipe.

Spread the frosting over the cold cupcakes using a spatula, or spoon the frosting into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle/tip and pipe it on top of the cupcakes. Top with blueberries and dust with edible glitter.

Note

Açai powder, capsules and drinks are available from healthfood stores. The pulp is available online, or blueberries can be substituted.