Earl Grey Macarons with Honey & Rosewater Buttercream

Macarons seem to be popping up all over the Internet recently.  They're pretty, dainty, delicate little pastries, and I very quickly decided I wanted to give them a try.  After reading about some of the interesting flavor variations (basil & lime! black sesame! champagne!) I became even more intrigued.  They seem like a very versatile little cookie.  And buttercream is often sandwiched between them.  I do love buttercream...

Green Tea Layer Cake with Lemon Honey Ombre Buttercream

Green Tea Layer Cake with Lemon Honey Ombre Buttercream

I have to admit, last time I had green tea cake, I was not a fan.  My husband (then boyfriend) and I were visiting a friend who was studying abroad in Japan over our spring break (this was back in college).  We were staying in this strange hotel over a mall/supermarket, and for reasons I don't remember, we decided to eat every Japanese baked good and sweet from that supermarket.

For dinner.

Black & White Sesame Cupcakes with Sweet Bean Filling

Last week, I saw a blog post about a cupcake with black sesame buttercream.  Immediately, I began to plot my next cupcake.  I love sesame.  I sometimes have weird cravings for it.  I started to envision a lightly sesame cupcake with sweet bean filling and sesame buttercream.  At this point, I realized I was scheming to create a cupcake version of my favorite dim sum treat: Jin Deui.