Fig and Vanilla Cupcakes - Recipe

for the cupcakes:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup confectioners/icing sugar
2 cups self-rising flour
1 tsp. baking powder
4 eggs
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
1 cup finely chopped, dried figs

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Combine all the cupcake ingredients in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth and pale, about 2-3 minutes. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter into each well of a muffin tin lined with baking cups. Bake for 18-22 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and cool for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from the pan and cool on a wire rack for an additional 25 minutes.

for the frosting:
1 cup cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups icing sugar, sifted
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tbsp. grated lemon zest
chopped fresh figs for garnish

2. Beat the cream cheese, icing sugar, vanilla and lemon zest with an electric mixer until soft and creamy. Frost each cupcake with a beveled spatula or piping bag. Top each cupcake with a slice of fig.

Makes approximately 18 cupcakes