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Archive for the ‘Cupcakes’ Category

Black-Bottom Cupcakes

Posted in Chocolate, Cupcakes, Dessert, tagged , , on March 15, 2019| 3 Comments »

Swirled Black-Bottom Cupcake

Black-bottom cupcakes are seriously delicious and super moist, hence no frosting needed at all on these little babies. Funny name though and think it comes from the cupcake originally having the cream cheese encased in chocolate, sort of like a peanutbutter cup. Here I made half of the cupcakes with the  cream cheese center and the other half with a swirling effect. You pick what you like the best and enjoy.

Making Black-Bottom Cupcakes

Black-Bottom Cupcakes, makes 12 cupcakes.

Ingredients

For the filling:

8 oz cream cheese, low fat, at room temperature (226 g)

1/3 cup sugar (75 g)

1 large egg, at room temperature

2 oz semi-sweet chopped chocolate or chocolate chips (60 g)

For the cupcakes:

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (195 g)

5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder(33 g)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar (190 g)

1 cup water (225 ml or 2.25 dl)

1/3 cup vegetable oil (75 ml or 0.75 dl)

1 tablespoon white or cider vinegar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 12 cup muffing pan with cupcake liners, set aside.

Make the filling:

Beat together cream cheese, sugar and egg until smooth. Stir in chopped chocolate (or chocolate chips) and set aside.

Make the cupcakes: 

In a large bowl sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl mix together brown sugar, water, vegetable oil, vinegar and vanilla extract. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients and stir in wet ingredients. Stir only until smooth, careful not to over-stir.

Fill each cupcake liner half-way with chocolate batter, leaving a small amount of batter in the bowl which you will need later on. Spoon a couple of tablespoons of cream cheese batter into center of each cupcake, trying to not let cream cheese batter touch the sides of cupcake liner. Divide cream cheese batter evenly among all 12 cupcakes. Using the remaining chocolate batter, spoon batter over cream cheese to seal it off. Cupcakes will be 90% full which is ok. If you wish to swirl the batter, insert a butter knife only about 1/2 inch into each cupcake moving the knife around in an abstract pattern to create the swirling effect.

Bake for 25 minutes until the cupcakes are slightly golden brown and the cupcakes feel springy when gently pressed.

Black-Bottom Cupcake

Source: Smitten Kitchen via David Lebovitz

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Blueberry-Pumpkin Muffins

Posted in Autumn, Cupcakes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on October 1, 2017| 2 Comments »

Blueberry-Pumpkin Muffins

Here in Virginia we get some of the most beautiful days from mid September to late October. The temperature have changed from hot to perfect, and it’s time for Fall colors, pumpkins and Halloween. And so we must have  a pumpkin recipe! I came across this recipe and at first I didn’t think blueberries and pumpkin would compliment each other, but they do, and the oat topping brings an extra layer of delish to these tender muffins. So if you like, give them a try and enjoy your Fall 🎃🍁

Blueberry-Pumpkin Muffins (makes 15 muffins)

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (340 g)

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2/3 cup buttermilk (155 ml)

1/2 cup canned pumpkin (130 g)

1 teaspoon vanilla sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature (112 g)

1/2 cup sugar (105 g)

1/4 cup packed brown sugar (40 g)

2 eggs, at room temperature

1/2 cup fresh blueberries (90 g)

For topping:

3 tablespoons unsalted butter (40 g)

1/4 cup packed brown sugar (40 g)

2 tablespoons old-fashioned oats (15 g)

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

3-4 teaspoons all-purpose flour

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C). Line muffin tin with paper liners.

In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda, set aside.

In a small bowl combine buttermilk, pumpkin and vanilla, set aside.

In a large bowl beat butter, sugar and brown sugar until light and creamy. Add eggs, one at the time, beating after each. On low speed add alternatively flour mixture and buttermilk mixture in small increments. Beat just until combined, batter with be somewhat stiff. Fold in blueberries.

Drop spoonfuls of batter into muffin liners filling each 2/3 full.

For topping: melt butter in microwave and add to brown sugar, oats, cinnamon and salt. Stir well. Add flour and stir to thicken. Sprinkle topping over muffin batter.

Bake in preheated oven for 18-21 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in muffin baking tin on a cooling rack for 5 minutes before taking muffins out of baking tin. Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy

Source: slightly adapted from Better Homes and Gardens magazine.

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Marble Cupcakes

Posted in Chocolate, Cupcakes, tagged , , , , on April 14, 2014| 1 Comment »

Marble Cupcake

Marble Cupcake

I have had a terrible craving for Marmorkage (Marble Cake), which is like a dear childhood friend to me. But I wanted it in a smaller format, like cupcakes. I found this one recipe with looked “oh so good” but unfortunately the result was a really bland tasting cupcake. I then pulled out Martha Stewart’s Cupcake book, hoping she might have a Marble cupcake in there, and thankfully she did 🙂 You can always count on Martha and she definitely knows her craft! The cupcakes turned out sweet, soft and very tasty. Although it is almost a shame to cover up these pretty cupcakes, I must admit that a chocolate frosting does seem to complete them, but of course that’s optional. I hope you enjoy these as much as we did.

Marble Cupcakes (makes 16 cupcakes)

Ingredients for Cupcakes:

1 3/4 cups cake flour, sifted, not self-rising (210 gram)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup milk, room temperature (78 ml)

1/3 cup heavy cream, room temperature (78 ml)

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature (113 gram)

1 cup sugar (222 gram)

3 large eggs, room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/3 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder (30 gram)

1/4 cup boiling water (60 ml)

Ingredients for Chocolate Frosting:

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate (120 grams), coarsely chopped

2/3 cup unsalted butter (150 grams), room temperature

1 1/3 cups confectioners sugar (160 grams), sifted

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions for Cupcakes:

Line muffin pan with paper liners. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C).

Sift together cake flour, baking powder and salt, set aside. Combine milk and cream, set aside. Using an electrical mixer, beat butter and sugar on high until pale yellow and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beat until incorporated. Scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla extract. Add flour in three increments, alternating with the milk mixture. Beat until combined.

To make chocolate batter. Measure out one generous cup of batter, place in small bowl. In a separate small dish combine cocoa powder and boiling water, whisk until smooth. Stir cocoa mixture into reserved batter until fully combined.

Fill prepared cup liner with alternating spoonfuls of vanilla and chocolate batter, filling each three-quarters full. Run a skewer through the batter in a figure-eight motion to make swirls. Bake until tops are golden and a toothpick comes out clean, approximately 20 minutes. Transfer muffin pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

Directions for Frosting:

Melt chocolate over a hot water bath. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.

In the bowl of an electrical mixer, beat butter until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute). Add confectioners sugar and beat until smooth and light (about 2 minutes). Add vanilla extract and chocolate, beat on low speed until incorporated. Increase speed to medium high and beat until frosting is smooth and glossy (2-3 minutes).

Pipe or spread frosting onto cupcakes. Enjoy!

Marble Cupcake With Chocolate Frosting

Marble Cupcake With Chocolate Frosting

Source: Cupcakes – Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes, Frosting – Joy of Baking

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Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Meringue Buttercream

Posted in Cupcakes, Dessert, Frosting, Valentine, tagged , , , , on June 2, 2013| 3 Comments »

Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Meringue Buttercream

Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Meringue Buttercream

I have been soaking up the last little bit of spring here in Virginia Beach before the summer heat hits us. I went to the local Farmers Market to get fresh fruit and I came home with a couple of trays of the most amazingly fragrant and sweet Pungo strawberries. Some of the strawberries went into the freezer and a lot of them went into these beautiful cupcakes. Although this recipe for the Strawberry Meringue Buttercream is a little challenging, let me assure you that it is well worth the effort. The buttercream is silky smooth and sweet and the cupcakes are soft and fluffy. This recipe is a keeper. Enjoy!

Making strawberry cupcakes

Making strawberry cupcakes

It is important to pay attention to the details in these two recipes. When measuring out the strawberries for the cupcakes they should be finely chopped, however, when measuring out the strawberries for the buttercream they are coarsely chopped, it makes a difference in the finished weight of strawberries you’ll end up with. I would have measured the strawberries for you but my scale finally gave out on me. When making this frosting make sure you are accurate, not generous, with the amount of strawberries you end up using for the buttercream.

Coarsely chopped strawberries. Strawberry puree and other ingredients. Starting to beat egg whites and sugar over waterbath. Finished beating, making sure they are completely smooth between your fingers. Beating meringue to a stiff, shiny peak. Finished buttercream.

Coarsely chopped strawberries. Strawberry puree and other ingredients. Starting to beat egg whites and sugar over waterbath. Finished beating, making sure the egg whites feel completely smooth between your fingers. Beating meringue to a stiff, shiny peak. Finished buttercream.

Strawberry Cupcakes (makes 34)

Ingredients:

2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cake flour (not self-rising)

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

2 1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 large whole eggs plus 1 egg white, at room temperature

1 cup milk

2 cups fresh strawberries, rinsed, hulled and finely chopped, plus 10 more for garnish if desired

Strawberry Meringue Buttercream Frosting (makes 5 cups)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries (8 ounces), rinsed, hulled and coarsely chopped

4 large egg whites, at room temperature

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (3 sticks), cut into tablespoons, room temperature

Directions for Strawberry Cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin tins with paper liners and set aside.

Sift together both flours, baking powder and salt. Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter, sugar and vanilla extract until  thick and smooth. Add whole eggs and the egg white one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Reduce mixer speed to low and add flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the milk, beating until well combined. Add chopped strawberries to the batter and fold them in by hand.

Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake for 25-30 minutes, rotating tins half-way through, until golden and a cake tester inserted into the center of cupcake come out clean. Place tins on a cooling rack and allow to cool for 15 minutes, then turn cupcakes onto rack and allow to cool completely.

Directions for Strawberry Meringue Buttercream:

Puree strawberries in a blender and set aside. In the bowl of your stand-mixer, combine egg whites and sugar. Place bowl over a cooking pot with a small amount of simmering water. Whisk egg whites and sugar constantly by hand until mixture is warm to the touch and sugar has dissolved (the mixture should feel completely smooth when rubbed between two fingers).

Attach the bowl to stand-mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Starting on low and gradually increasing speed to medium-high mix until stiff and shiny (not dry) peaks form, 10 to 15 minutes. Mixture should now have cooled down (test by touching bottom of bowl). With mixer on medium-low speed, add the butter a few tablespoons at a time, mixing well after each addition. Once all butter have been added, scrape down sides of bowl and switch to the paddle attachment. Continue to beat on low speed for 2 minutes to eliminated air bubbles. Add strawberry puree and beat until combined.

Cupcake assembly:

Load buttercream into a pastry bag fitted with a large open star tip. Pipe the buttercream onto each cupcake. Store cupcakes in an airtight container in refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving. Enjoy!

Buttercream storage:

Keep buttercream at room temperature if using the same day, or transfer to an airtight container and store in refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month. Before using, bring to room temperature and beat with paddle attachment on low speed until smooth again, about 5 minutes.

Source: Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes

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Devil’s Food Cupcakes With Perfect Chocolate Frosting

Posted in Chocolate, Cupcakes, Dessert, Frosting, tagged , , , , on March 12, 2012| 7 Comments »

Devil’s Food Cupcake With Perfect Chocolate Frosting

Attention all chocolate lovers…this one is for you! These cupcakes are double trouble. The cupcake is super moist with an intense chocolate flavor and the frosting is silky soft with an intoxicating chocolate aroma. Careful not to overbake the cupcakes, you don’t want to loose that perfect moisture.

Devil’s Food Cupcakes

I was taking a cake decorating class and had brought this chocolate frosting in with me for my project and we were about an hour into the class when all of the sudden the girl next to me burst out “omg that frosting smells amaaaazing” 🙂 It really does have a fantastic aroma.

Perfect Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients for Cupcakes (makes 24 cupcakes)

3/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder (65 g)

3/4 cup hot water (177 ml or 6 fl oz)

3 cups all-purpose flour (400 g)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (340 g)

2 1/4 cups sugar (465 g)

4 large eggs, room temperature

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup sour cream, room temperature (225 g or 8 oz)

Ingredients for Frosting (makes enough frosting for 12 cupcakes)

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate (120 grams), coarsely chopped

2/3 cup unsalted butter (150 grams), room temperature

1 1/3 cups confectioners sugar (160 grams), sifted

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions for Cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners.

Whisk together cocoa and hot water until smooth. In another bowel, mix togther flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Melt butter with sugar over medium-low heat until dissolved and stir to combine. Remove from heat and pour into mixing bowl. On medium-low speed beat until cooled (4-5 minutes). Add eggs one at a time, mixing until each is combined. Add vanilla and cocoa mixture, beat until combined. Scrape down sides as needed. On low speed, add flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the sour cream, beat just until combined after each.

Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full with batter. Bake, rotating muffin tins halfway through cooking time, for approximately 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Transfer muffin tins to baking racks and allow to cool for 15 minutes. Remove cupcakes from baking tins and place on baking racks, allow to cool completely.

Note: cupcakes can be store at room temperature overnight or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.

Directions for Frosting:

Melt chocolate over a hot water bath. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.

In the bowl of an electrical mixer, beat butter until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute). Add confectioners sugar and beat until smooth and light (about 2 minutes). Add vanilla extract and chocolate, beat on low speed until incorporated. Increase speed to medium high and beat until frosting is smooth and glossy (2-3 minutes).

Pipe or spread frosting onto cupcakes. Enjoy!

Source: Cupcakes – Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes, Frosting – Joy of Baking

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Chocolate Cupcakes with Nutella Icing

Posted in Chocolate, Cupcakes, Dessert, Frosting, tagged , , , , , , on September 19, 2010| 13 Comments »

Chocolate Cupcakes With Nutella Icing

Chocolate Cupcakes With Nutella Icing

So my husband Joe, you know the Blacksmith, had his Blacksmithing buddies over for their monthly meeting. This time I decided to also make them a sweet treat and when Joe saw these cupcakes on Barefoot Contessa’s TV show (yeah, I force him to watch the FoodNetwork…evil laugh) he decided that’s what he wanted. Except the original cupcakes had a Peanut Butter frosting and there is no way, no how, I am making anything Peanut Butter. Sorry, just can’t stand it. So we decided on a brilliant solution, Nutella of course. So here it is, please enjoy Chocolate Cupcakes with Nutella Icing.

Artist Blacksmith Group of Tidewater

Chocolate Cupcakes With Nutella Icing

Ingredients for cupcakes:

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup dark brown sugar, packed

2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup good cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Ingredients for Icing:

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

1 cup Nutella

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and the 2 sugars on high-speed until light and fluffy (approx 5 minutes). Lower speed to medium and add the eggs one at a time, then add vanilla and mix well.

In a separate bowl, mix together buttermilk and sour cream. In another bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.

On low-speed, add the buttermilk mixture and the flour mixture alternately in thirds to the mixer bowl. Mix only until blended. Fold batter with a spatula to be sure it’s completely blended.

Divide batter among the cupcake pans, using an ice cream scoop per cup. Bake in the middle of oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Using a toothpick test to make sure cupcakes are done. Toothpick should come out clean. Cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and allow to cool completely before frosting.

To make the frosting: place confectioner’s sugar, nutella, butter, vanilla and salt in the bowl of an electrical mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping down the sides of bowl as you work. Add the cream and beat on high-speed until the mixture is light and smooth.

Once cupcakes are completely cooled, frost with Nutella Icing. Enjoy!

Chocolate Cupcake With Nutella Icing

Chocolate Cupcake With Nutella Icing

Source: adapted from Barefoot Contessa

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