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The Real Food Academy Miami's vanilla cupcakes with lemon curd and fresh berries recipe.
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Vanilla Cupcakes with Lemon Curd and Fresh Berries

By Chef Maria Cummins

Course
dessert
Cuisine
american
Servings
12

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsweetened oat milk (if dairy free)
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 3/4 cup organic sugar
  • 1/3 cup avocado oil or butter
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 cups lemon curd (see recipe below)
  • Fresh berries for toppings (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries)
  • A handful of fresh mint

Instructions

Instructions for Cupcakes
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray the cupcake pans (no liners).
  2. Whisk together the almond or oat milk and apple cider vinegar and set aside for a few minutes so the milk curdles.
  3. Beat in the sugar, oil, and vanilla until foamy.
  4. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Slowly beat the dry ingredients into the wet until smooth.
  6. Divide the batter evenly between the 12 cupcakes pan.
  7. Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from the oven, and after a few minutes, move cupcakes to a cooling rack.
  8. Add a scoop of lemon curd on each cupcake and garnish with the berries and mint.
Lemon Curd

Makes 1 ¼ cups

Ingredients
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 2 cups water
  • 4 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
  • 4 Tablespoons butter
  • 2 Tablespoons grated lemon zest
  • 6 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • Pastry bags (for poring)
Instructions for Lemon Curd
  1. Combine sugar, cornstarch, and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil (3-4 minutes).
  2. Boil, stirring, for 1 minute more. Remove the pan from the heat.
  3. Spoon about ½ cup of the hot mixture into a small bowl with egg yolks and stir quickly until combined. Continue stirring, while pouring the egg mixture back into the saucepan.
  4. Return pan to medium heat and cook, stirring, until the curd is thickened and lemon colored (1-2 min). Remove from heat and stir in the butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Let the lemon curd cool, then press plastic wrap onto the surface, this will prevent a skin from forming on the top. Refrigerate. You can divide them into a few pastry bags for easy poring.

Chef Maria Cummins

Born in Venezuela, Maria Cummins discovered her deep-rooted passion for food from an early age. Her culinary journey led her to Lima, Peru, where she immersed herself in the rich secrets of Peruvian gastronomy during part of her childhood. In her early twenties, she embarked on a new chapter by coming to the United States and delving into the Hospitality Industry in Boston, Massachusetts.

Maria's culinary adventure continued as she relocated to San Diego, California, where she made her mark by opening the renowned El Tucan Restaurant. Her extensive travels and diverse experiences greatly influenced her innovative culinary style, shaping the unique approach she is celebrated for today.

During her time in San Diego, Chef Maria not only honed her culinary skills but also gained a profound understanding of the importance of nutrition, particularly through the use of organic and unprocessed ingredients.

Today, Maria Cummins is the proud owner, founder, and head chef of the Real Food Academy, a culinary haven nestled in the vibrant city of Miami. Here, both kids and adults come together every week to share the joy of connecting through the power of Real Food and Real Fun!

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    Great experience and fun event for learning without too much intensity
  • Sarah B

    Delicious and fun We had a great time and very much enjoyed the chef who taught the evening. The menu was perfect and we will definitely take more classes here!
  • Robert Sutherland

    Chef Pablo was the perfect mix of humor, passion, and master teacher. I had an amazing experience, and would recommend seizing the opportunity to experience what the academy has to offer!
  • Erica Wandzel

    This was an excellent team-building event. Our team from around the world had a great time learning about the food that we were making while overall spending time together. The staff was fantastic, and the facility was first-class. Thank you.
  • Olga Meador

    Awesome experience- wonderful service!!
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    Very good class
  • Dan Stein

    Amazing experience for friends or coworkers, great team (Pablo and Tony), and food was amazing! 100% recommend!
  • Jennifer Swanton

    Excellent class! I took my daughter today to the sushi class for kids and she loved it! She wants to go back next week!
  • martin gallardo

    Great place. Very clean, good music, food awesome. Chef Maria is a master. Great for family too.
  • alex guzman

    This was a great experience. It was my first time cooking and it was very easy. The chef was very welcoming and gave clear instructions. I highly recommend coming to the Real Food Academy.
  • Paula Chacon

    Great location, the dinamic is fun, the food is easy and delicious, great experience
  • Isabel Guia

    The experience was amazing! Thank you Chef Maria!
  • Yesenia Gasco

    Absolutely amazing class with Chef Maria! Highly recommend. Food and ambience were great!
  • Scott Grondin

    Fun night and great food! Highly recommend.
  • Tammi Calarco

    Fabulous place for networking events. The chef did a great job in teaching our group about the food we were preparing and in directing us on how to prepare and cook. We made beef empanadas, shrimp ceviche, and beef lomo saltado. Helpful techniques. Fresh ingredients. Healthy cooking. I can't wait to go again. I highly recommend this place.
  • Rahysa Vargas

    The experience was amazing highly recommend our Argentinian chef was amazing an instructor staff was wonderful we were a huge private group and we all loved it would come back again and recommend for networking event, birthday or for a date night.
  • Vivian Urquijo

    Amazing time It was an amazing experience as always my kids had a good time and learned new cooking techniques, I love the place and very much recommend.
  • sfuji15 (bam)

    Amazing experience and a fun time! Maria was great and explained everything so well and made sure everyone was on the right page. Would definitely recommend and will for sure be coming back!
  • Jodi Lewis

    Had such a great time at the pasta making class!
  • Carlos20

    The people in at this restaurant and academy are some of the kindest people I have had the joy of meeting in my life, they will treat you like family and chef Maria will cook you an spectacular meal like you can't imagine. 10 out 10 recommend this place. Love their food like you got no idea.

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No. All Payments and Deposits are non-refundable: When a payment or deposit is made, that day and time is no longer available to other customers on our calendar. For that reason, all payments and deposits are non-refundable.

In the case of a cooking class, the ingredients are shopped for and prepped in advance. Staff is also scheduled according to the number of people on the roster.

See our Wine and Beer list for your in-house kids party options. Optionally, you can bring your own wine or beer and page a corkage fee.

Corkage Fees

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  • $30 per 1.5 L bottle of wine

Bring outside beer: $20 for beer (any quantity)

We love it when our customers decorate our place. That said, you have no idea how difficult it is to clean these types of things up. As far as noisemakers go......you will be glad you left them at home as well. So please do not bring any of those things.

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The Real Food Academy Miami is Now Enrolling Summer Camps!

With a limited capacity of 40 participants per day, spots fill up quickly! Don't miss your chance to secure your desired dates for this incredible cooking camp experience. Register now to ensure your child's place at The Real Food Academy Miami, FL's Cooking with Kids Summer Camp!

Book Now