The Culinary Connoisseur
We Love our Cupcakes
26
Apr
Apr
While many food trends come and go it seems that cupcakes
are here to stay. New-fangled flavors pop up all the time; some work and other
fall flat. But throughout all the crazes cupcakes are pretty much a constant. Basic
cupcakes are perfect for after school snacking but when the occasion arises for
something more sophisticated here are some tasty options for you to try.
Hazelnuts and caramelized sugar is winning combination
on every palate!
3/4 cup margarine, room temperature
3 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 tablespoons hazelnut liqueur
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup soy or rice milk
1/2 cup finely chopped, toasted hazelnuts (filberts)
For the hazelnut cream:
1/3 cup margarine, room temperature
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
5 tablespoons soy or rice milk, divided
1 tablespoon hazelnut liqueur
1 teaspoon vanilla
For the brulee sugar:
1/3 cup sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 24 standard cupcake
cups. In a medium bowl stir together flour and baking powder. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl beat margarine with an electric
mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, about 1/4
cup at a time, beating on medium speed until combined. Scrape sides of bowl;
beat for 2 minutes more. Add eggs, liqueur and vanilla. Alternately add flour
mixture and soy milk, beating on low speed after each addition just until
combined. Fold in nuts.
Scoop batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake for 15 to 18
minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool cupcakes for 5
minutes. Remove cupcakes from the pan. Cool completely.
Make the cream: In a large mixing bowl beat margarine
with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add 1 cup of the
confectioners’ sugar, beating well. Beat in the 2 tablespoons of the soy milk,
the liqueur, and vanilla. Gradually beat in the remaining powdered sugar. Beat
in additional milk until it reaches spreading consistency.
Pipe cream onto the cupcakes using a star tip like 1M.
In a large skillet cook sugar over medium-high heat until
it starts to melt. Do not stir. Once melted, reduce heat to low and cook about
5 minutes or until all of the sugar is melted, stirring as needed with a wooden
spoon. Remove from heat. Immediately drizzle caramelized sugar mixture over
frosted cupcakes.
Milchig and worth every bite!
3/4 cup butter, room temperature
3 eggs
2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1 tablespoon instant coffee crystals
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup coffee liqueur
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups chocolate milk
Marshmallow-Coffee Frosting
2 egg whites
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup light corn
syrup
1 teaspo
on strong coffee
on strong coffee
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line twenty-four standard
muffin cups. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, coffee,
baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on
medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, beating on medium
speed until combined. Beat for 2 minutes more, scraping side of bowl
occasionally. Add eggs, liqueur and vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and
chocolate milk, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined.
Beat on medium to high speed for 20 seconds more. Spoon batter into the
prepared cups.
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until tops spring back when
lightly touched. Cool in pans for 5 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely.
Make the frosting:
Beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually beat in sugar; beat until mixture is
smooth and glossy. Beat in corn syrup, a little at a time. Continue beating
until frosting holds stiff peaks when beater is raised. Fold in coffee.
Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees F. Pipe or
spread marshmallow frosting onto tops of cupcakes. Place frosted cupcakes on a
large baking sheet. Bake 5 minutes or until frosting is lightly browned.