Cannoli Cupcake

Finally done with high school! Of course to celebrate I made these cupcakes for all my friends. I've been waiting to try out these babies and they came out amazing! I absolutely love cannoli's and thought why not try them in cupcake form? A ricotta and chocolate chip cupcake, cannoli filling, and a marble frosting, these cupcakes were a hit! Enjoy =]

Cannoli Cupcake-

Ingredients

• 1 stick unsalted butter, room temp
• 1 cup plus 1 tbs sugar
• 3 eggs, room temp
• 2 1/2 cups ap flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1 tbs marsala wine
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions

In an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. One at a time, add each egg until fully incorporated. In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Set aside. Mix together the milk, wine, and extracts. Combine the wet and dry ingredients in the mixer in three parts. Add in the ricotta till completely combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Cannoli Filling-

Ingredients

• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup toasted almonds
• 1/4 tsp orange extract
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions

In a bowl mix together all the ingredients. Whip the heavy cream till stiff peaks form, and fold into the mixture in 3 parts. 

Chocolate Frosting-

Ingredients

• 4 tbs unsalted butter, room temp
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• about 1/2-3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 3 tbs milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

Cream the butter with the vanilla extract. Slowly alternate between the powdered sugar and the cocoa powder. Add in 1 tbs of milk at a time until the right consistency is reached

Vanilla Buttercream-

Ingredients

• 1/2 stick unsalted butter, room temp
• 1 1/2- 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 2 tbs milk

Directions

Cream together the butter and vanilla extract. Add in the powdered sugar and nutmeg slowly. Mix in the milk 1 tbs at a time until the right consistency is reached.

Assembly-

Once the cupcakes have cooled, fill them with about 1 teaspoon of the cannoli filling. With a piping bag filled with half chocolate and half vanilla buttercream, pipe onto the top of each cupcake. For decoration, sprinkle some mini chocolate chips on top before refrigerating. 

Pink Lemonade Cupcake

So for my last cupcake in the project, I made a take on the delicious summer drink...PINK LEMONADE! Many people said that this was their favorite out of the three, and I might have to agree. A lemon cupcake with fresh strawberries folded in, lemon curd filling, and creamy strawberry buttercream I am proud to say summer has officially arrived. Enjoy =]

Lemon Strawberry Cupcake-


Ingredients

• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temp
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs, room temp
• 2 1/4 cup ap flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• zest of 2 lemons
• 3/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup milk
• about 8 strawberries diced

Directions

To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.  Line muffin pans with paper liners.  In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and lemon zest.  Stir together with a fork and set aside.  In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until it is light and fluffy.  Add the sugar and beat until well combined.  Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition.  Add half of the flour mixture to the bowl and beat on low speed until just incorporated.  Add in the lemon juice and milk and mix until smooth.  Add in the remaining flour mixture and mix on low speed until just blended.  Fold in the fresh strawberries with a spatula.

Divide the batter evenly between the paper liners, filling them about 3/4 full.  Bake about 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool in the pan 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Lemon Curd-

Ingredients

• 2 whole eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 6 egg yolks
• 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbs butter

Directions

In a bowl, beat the eggs until homogenous. Mix in the sugar and lemon juice. Put the bowl over a pot of simmering water and heat until the mixture is thick enough to cover the back of a wooden spoon. Take off the heat and mix in the butter. Cover with seran wrap, and refrigerate before using.

Strawberry Buttercream-

Ingredients

• 6 strawberries, pureed or mashed
• 2 stick unsalted butter, room temp
• 3-4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbs heavy cream

Directions

With an electric mixer, cream the butter. Add the vanilla extract and about 2 tsp of the strawberry puree. Alternate with half a cup of powdered sugar and 2 tsp of strawberry puree until you reach the right consistency and taste. Add in the the heavy cream and whip until light and fluffy. 

Assembly

Once the cupcakes have cooled, fill with about 1 tsp of the lemon curd. Pipe on the strawberry buttercream and refrigerate for about 1/2 and hour. For decoration, you can cut up multi colored straws and put them ontop

Peach Cobbler Cupcakes

For the second cupcake in my project, I kept up the summer flavor theme with a peach cobbler variation. Every since my apple pie cupcake, I knew I would love this recipe. A cinnamon flavor cupcake with fresh peaches in the batter and the filling, it really does embody a peach cobbler. And we definitely can not forget the whipped cream topping! Enjoy =]


Peach Cupcake-


Ingredients

• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temp
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 3 eggs room temp
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 cup peach syrup from can
• 1/2-3/4 cup buttermilk, depending on consistency
• fresh or canned peaches

Crumb Topping-

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 stick butter, room temp

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 wells in a cupcake pan. In a small bowl, make crumb topping. Add all the ingredients and cut the mixture into crumbles with two knives until it’s about the consistency of coarse cornmeal. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugars. Add the eggs one at a time and mix. Mix in the vanilla, and a little peach syrup.

In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add a little of the flour mixture at a time to the wet ingredients, mixing well after each addition. Alternate with the buttermilk. Beat the batter well until air is incorporated, about 2 more minutes. Fold in the chopped peaches.

Pour just enough batter into each of 24 cupcake wells to cover the bottom. Sprinkle the crumb topping onto each cupcake, so that most of it is covered. Bake 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in pan for a couple of minutes, and then on a cooling rack. Once cupcakes are completely cool, frost them.

Peach Filling-

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup ap flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 5 peaches, cubed and peeled
• 1 tsp cornstarch, dissolved in 1 tbs water
• 1/2 lemon juiced
• 1 tbs butter

Directions

Combine all the ingredients in a baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until the filling has become golden and starts to bubble.

Whipped Cream Topping-

The same recipe was used for the filling in the creamsicle cupcakes.

Assembly-

Once the cupcakes have cooled, fill the with about a tsp of the peach filling. Top with the whipped cream and sprinkle some cinnamon on top.

Pina Colada Cupcake

For my senior project, of course I decided to cater a school function. This cupcake is the first of 3 that I prepared as a demonstration of what my future career will consist of. I have to say, this is one of the best cupcakes I made. Taking the typical coconut and pineapple flavors, summer came early this year for me =]. A coconut cupcake, pineapple filling and a pineapple cream cheese frosting dipped in coconut flakes, it feels like you're right on the beach as you take a bite! Enjoy.

Coconut Cupcake-

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temp
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs, room temp
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 10 oz coconut milk
• 2 tsp coconut extract
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbs coconut cream
• 1/2 cup coconut flakes

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in each egg one at a time until fully incorporated. While the mixer is on, in another bowl sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside. Mix together the coconut milk, extracts and coconut cream. Alternate adding the flour mixture and the milk mixture to the batter. Mix until combined. When done, fold in the coconut flakes and pour the batter into cupcake tins. Bake for about 15 mins, or until a tooth pick comes out clean.

Pineapple Filling-

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 tbs flour
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 cup diced pineapple
• 3/4 cup pineapple juice
• 1 tbs lemon juice
• 2 tbs butter
• 1 tsp cornstarch

Directions

In a double broiler over boiling water, mix ingredients until combined. Stir frequently until thickened. Take off the stove and cool completely.

Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting-

Ingredients

• 1/2 stick butter, room temp
• 1 package cream cheese (8 oz) room temp
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 4-6 tbs pineapple juice

Directions

With an electric mixer on medium, cream together the butter and cream cheese. Alternate adding the juice and 1 cup of sugar at a time. Keep adding until the right consistency is reached.

Assembly-

When the cupcakes have cooled, cut out the middle of each and spoon in about a teaspoon of filling into each. Cover with the bits that you cut out. Take the frosting and spread a generous amount on top of the cupcakes. Dip into shredded coconut and refrigerate. 

Peach Cobbler Cupcakes

Hey Guys! So inspired by the delicious summer fruits, i decided to make a peach cobbler cupcake. It is a spiced peach cupcake with fresh peaches inside and a graham cracker crust, topped off with a brandy caramel peach sauce inside and a vanilla caramel buttercream. It turned out so yummy! I hope you enjoy xx


Graham Cracker Crust:

Ingredients:

3/4 cup of graham cracker crumbs

2 tsp of melted butter

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350. Mix ingredients together and spread a thin layer at the bottom of the cupcake liners and bake for 5 minutes


Peach Cobbler Cupcake

Yields about 16 cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 1/4 C peaches, chopped

1 1/2 C flour

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 tsp all spice

1 tsp nutmeg

1/2 C unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 C brown sugar

1/4 C sugar

2 eggs

1/2 C sour cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1 1/4 C peaches, chopped (about 2 medium-sized peaches). Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg in a bowl. Beat butter and sugars in a large bowl for 1 minute until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, sour cream, and vanilla extract until blended. Mix in flour mixture. Then fold in peaches. Now fill the cupcake liners 1/2 to ¾ full and bake at 350 F for about 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out of the cupcake clean.



Brandy Peach Caramel Filling:

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup heavy cream

3 tbsp. peach brandy (or regular brandy, the fresh peaches will give it the flavor)

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 large peaches, pitted and chopped into small pieces

Directions:

Melt butter in a heavy saucepan. Stir in brown sugar and bring to a boil over low heat. Let simmer, stirring frequently, for about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cream slowly. Return to burner, add brandy and vanilla and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more. Let cool slightly, then stir in peaches.


Vanilla Caramel Buttercream

Ingredients:

3 cups confectioners' sugar

1 cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream

Directions:

In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes. Add in 1/4 of hershey caramel sauce and 2 tbsp of Brandy Peach Caramel Sauce and continue to beat then add the vanilla and the cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more