Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Tiramisu Cupcake

Hey everyone, this week I decided to make my dad happy and give him a belated birthday present. Since his favorite dessert is tiramisu, I took the classic italian recipe and gave it a twist =] Still the same great flavors, this cupcake wont disappoint! Enjoy =]

Cupcake-

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cup cake flour sifted
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 2-3 tsp vanilla extract
  • half a stick unsalted butter
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1 cup sugar
Directions
Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Line 2 cupcake tins with liners and set aside. Heat the milk, vanilla extract, and butter until combined. Cool on the side for about 15 minutes. While the milk is cooling, whisk together the whole eggs, yolks, and sugar. Put the bowl over a boiling pot of water, and whisk by hand until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is warm. With and electric mixer on high speed, whisk the egg mixture until it is fluffy, and pale yellow. The consistency should be similar to whipped cream. In another bowl, sift together the cake flour, baking soda and powder, and salt. Fold the flour mixture into the egg in three parts. Then take some of the batter and mix it into the milk to thicken the mixture. Slowly fold the milk mixture into the batter until combined. Pour into liners about 3/4 of the way. Bake for about 15-18 minutes or until a light gold, turning the tins half way through. 

Coffee-Marsala Glaze

Ingredients
  • 1/3 cup very strong coffee
  • 1 oz. marsala
  • 1/3 cup sugar
Directions
Stir together coffee, marsala, and sugar until combined. Cool

Mascarpone Frosting-

Ingredients
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 8 oz. mascarpone cheese room temp
  • 1/2 powdered sugar
Directions
Put a bowl and whisk into the freezer 10 prior. With an electric mixer, whisk together mascarpone cheese and sugar until smooth. In chilled bowl, use the chilled whisk to the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone, and whisk together until light and fluffy. 
Assembly-

When the cupcakes have cooled, take a toothpick or fork to poke holes in each one. With a brush, brush on the glaze on all the cupcakes, until all of it has been used. Let the cupcakes sit for about 15 minutes to soak up the glaze. While the cupcake are soaking, it is best to make the frosting now. Take a spoon and dollop a heaping of frosting onto each cupcake. Dust each one with a mixture of espresso powder and cinnamon. 

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Chocolate Raspberry Decadence

Greeting from the Birthday Girl! So for my birthday of course I used my favorite combo, chocolate and raspberries =]. This sinfull cupcake is not lacking in richness or decadence. A chocolate cupcake with fresh raspberries mixed in the batter, raspberry whipped cream filling, and a thick chocolate ganache topping, this will be a favorite of anybodies. Enjoy =]

Chocolate Raspberry Cupcake-

Ingredients

1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
3/8 cup canola oil plus 1 tbs
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups flour
1 1/8 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/8 teaspoons baking soda
¾ teaspoons salt
½ tablespoon vanilla extracts
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
¾ cups cocoa powder
1/2 cup chopped raspberries
4 oz. semi sweet chocolate

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 cupcake tins
In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the brown sugar and oil. Turn on the mixer to a low speed and mix in the eggs. Let the sugar, oil, and eggs mix while sifting together the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Set this mixture aside.
In another small bowl, mix the vanilla into the milk and set this aside as well. Bring the water to a boil and pour over the cocoa and whisk it until it is smooth. Also, melt the chocolate in a double broiler until fully melted. To the egg mixture, alternately add the flour mixture and the milk mixture beginning and ending with flour. With the mixer off, scrape down the sides of the bowl after each addition. With the mixture at a low speed add the cocoa and melted chocolate. With the mixer off, fold in the chopped raspberries. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and pour this mixture into the tins. Bake the cupcakes for approximately 15 minutes or until tester comes out clean.
Raspberry Whipped Cream Filling-
Ingredients
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tbs granulated sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam
Directions-
In a bowl, stir together whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla. Refrigerate with whisk for at least 15 minutes. Take mixture and whisk until stiff peaks are almost formed. Gradually add 1 tbs of jam at a time and whisk until stiff peaks are formed. Do not over mix. You can put the whipped cream in the fridge until needed.
Chocolate Ganache topping-
Ingredients
10 oz. semi sweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 heavy whipping cream
3 tbs butter
Directions
In a pot, bring whipping cream to a boil. Slowly pour over chopped chocolate and butter. Stirring from the middle, melt ingredient together until incorporated. Do not over stir or the mixture will lose shine.

Assembly-
Once the cupcakes have cooled, cut out the centers about the size of a quarter. Spoon about 1 tbs of the whipped cream into each cupcake, and top. With the filled cupcakes, dip each into the ganache and let cool. If you want, you can dip each cupcake twice into the ganache. When almost firm, top each cupcake with a raspberry. Refrigerate until the ganache as firmed.