Lemon Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream

The Lemon Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream Baking Kit is a complete, hands-on learning project that turns the kitchen into a classroom for students in grades 3 through 12 (ages 8 to 18). This baking kit is considered a STEM project because the recipe is essentially a set of chemical formulas and engineering blueprints. The student will explore science through chemical reactions, technology through the use of kitchen tools and appliances, engineering through building and designing edible 3D structures, and math by measuring ingredients and working with fractions. This baking kit teaches the student the science behind the chemical reaction that baking powder creates. Specifically, this chemical leavener releases carbon dioxide gas which gets trapped in the cupcake batter and expands when heated. The end result is a light, airy, and tender texture to the cupcakes. In addition, this baking kit teaches the student the science behind the mechanical emulsion of combining fat and sugar. The student will learn the structure of a buttercream completely relies on introducing air into the whipped butter and suspending sugar crystals in the butter; resulting in a stable buttercream that can be used for piping and decorating. An insert will be included in this baking kit to describe these two scientific principles. The baking kit contains (1) a keepsake recipe card with detailed step by step instructions, illustrations, a featured ingredient with a description on how the ingredient is used in baking, and a professional tip specific to the respective bake, (2) a QR code that provides multiple professional tips and techniques, and a full video tutorial to guide the student through every step in the baking process, (3) kitchen tools that are relevant to the respective bake, and (4) non-perishable, pre-measured ingredients. The video tutorial is designed to guide younger and more novice bakers through the recipe at their own pace. Older students can work through the project independently and reference the video tutorial if needed. No baking experience is needed, and the difficulty flexes across the age range, which makes it a practical fit for multi-age and multi-grade households.