Mango Cupcakes with Buttercream-Rosewater-Cardomom-Saffron Frosting

This year when my birthday rolled around, I decided I was gonna “keep it real” and bake with something that reminds me of the motherland: MANGOS. Since I come from a tropical people, mangos used to grow in my folks’ backyards and my grandfolks’ backyards. It was a time-honored tradition to break off the mangos, squeeze all of the pulp, adding milk/yogurt and ice cubes. Perfect cooloff from the oppressive heat of the summer months. Or toss em into some masala and make some mango pickle. But even by themselves, they’re just so succulent. If I could IV inject this stuff, I would. But, I made a cake and cupcakes instead. Mango-flavored cake and a rosewater-cardomom-saffron frosting to top it off. It was a heavenly combination, it definitely broke da mouth. 

& check out the special ingredient!!

that mango above is currently listening to: Ryan Adams - Electrosnake