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    Peach Bellini Cupcakes

    Peach Bellini Cupcakes are studded with diced fresh peaches, filled with champagne pastry cream, and topped with swirls of fluffy peach buttercream. Cheers!

    Peach season is almost here, and I was lucky enough to get my hands on some fresh peaches a little earlier than usual. Once plucked, there’s a short window of time to enjoy them before they wrinkle up and spoil. So, needless to say, I was pressed to use them quickly. As a result, last Sunday we had peach tea with our brunch and Peach Melba for dessert. Then, the idea for these Peach Bellini Cupcakes came to me as another way to use up fresh peaches. However, you don’t have to use fresh peaches in this recipe – canned are fine too!
    These cupcakes taste absolutely celebratory. Champagne (or prosecco) infuses the cakes and their pastry cream centers. Diced peaches float throughout to cake, and a swirl of fluffy peach buttercream is the finishing flourish.

    Make the batter.
    Start by creaming the butter and sugar together. I used a hand mixer and things turned out just fine. Then add flour and champagne alternately. As usual, begin and end with the flour to build the best texture.

    Dice the peaches.
    Chop fresh peaches fine, to about 1/4 inch dice. You’ll need 2/3 cup of diced peaches, which is about 1 1/4 medium-sized fresh peaches. Again, canned peaches are just fine to use here. Just pat them dry before chopping them and adding them to the recipe.

    Add the peaches to the batter and mix them in using a rubber spatula. If using canned peaches, which aren’t as firm, use a folding motion so they don’t tear or break down.

    Lighten the batter with egg whites.
    Yes – it’s an extra step, but whipped egg whites make the base of this cupcake spongy and soft. Fold them in carefully. Hastily stirring them in will deflate the batter and decrease your overall yield. Mindful, careful folding of the egg whites gives the cupcake a sponge cake texture that holds up well to fillings and frostings.

    Line cupcake tins with papers, and then portion out the batter using a trigger ice cream scoop. I ended up with about 18 cupcakes.

    Bake at 350F for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick tester comes out clean. Then cool them completely on a wire rack.

    Champagne pastry cream.
    Ah, my favorite element of this confection! Champagne pastry cream is so delicious and smooth – and it’s not too hard to make. Prepare it a day ahead and store it in the refrigerator, if you have time constraints.
    Core the cupcakes using a small paring knife, and save the cut out piece. Fill each cupcake with about 1 1/2-2 tablespoons of champagne pastry cream. Using the same paring knife, cut the reserved cake pieces flat to create a ‘lid’ and cover the pastry cream with it.

    Peachy hues.
    The peach-flavored frosting was a color experiment gone right! I wanted it to not only have the flavor of peaches (thanks to LorAnn peach flavoring oil), but the color variation as well. So I whipped up some orangey-peach buttercream and painted two lines of red gel food color inside a piping bag. After the bag is loaded with the buttercream and piped, it creates a pleasing swirl reminiscent of peach peel.
    See the recipe for further instruction, and for the brand and color of gel food color I used to achieve this effect.

    Bubbly!
    This isn’t the first time I’ve added white nonpareils for a bubbly appearance (see this Cherry Limeade Cake). It’s just the perfect touch to evoke the feelings of a fizzy drink. Pipe the frosting onto a cupcake, and immediately add the white nonpareils. This buttercream crusts, so you must add the sprinkles immediately. If you wait too long, they’ll bounce right off!

    Inspired by the Venice-borne cocktail made with champagne and peach puree, these Peach Bellini Cupcakes hold the same sparkling flavor. Bellini are often served as an accompaniment to creamy, salty or spicy foods. So these cupcakes would make a fine dessert after a big plate of alfredo pasta with focaccia. Or spicy bucatini. However, I think they go with everything. (Especially brunch.)
    Related recipe: Homemade Peach Cobbler in a Cone

    Peach Bellini Cupcakes

    Heather Baird

    Inspired by the Italian Bellini cocktail, these toast-worthy cakes will be the star of your next happy celebration. The cupcakes are infused with champagne or prosecco, and filled with chopped fresh peaches. This flavorful foundation holds pockets of champagne pastry cream inside. The cupcakes are topped with peach-flavored buttercream in peach-peel hues.This recipe calls for fresh peaches, but if they’re not in season, then canned peaches work just fine!For the frosting, you’ll need to purchase a small bottle of LorAnn peach flavoring oil. See links for resources. Or, instead of the oil, you may use 2 tablespoons of peach schnapps.This recipe yields 16-18 cupcakes, more or less depending on how carefully you fold the whipped egg whites into the cupcake batter.

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    Prep Time 20 minutes minsCook Time 22 minutes mins1 hour cooling time 1 hour hrTotal Time 1 hour hr 42 minutes mins

    Course DessertCuisine American

    Servings 18

    Ingredients  Cupcakes6 large egg whites10 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature1 ½ cups granulated sugar2 cups all-purpose flour1 tablespoon baking powder1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt3/4 cup champagne or prosecco or other sparkling white wine2/3 cup fresh peaches 1/4″ dice or diced canned peaches Champagne pastry cream1/2 cup heavy cream divided2 tablespoons cornstarch1 whole egg2 egg yolks5 tablespoons granulated sugar1/2 cup champagne or prosecco2 tablespoons unsalted butter1 teaspoon vanilla extractPeach buttercream
    Instructions CupcakesPreheat the oven to 350F. Line cupcake pans with 18 paper liners. Set aside.In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the egg whites to stiff peaks; set aside.In another bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. In yet another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to combine.Add the flour mixture to the creamed butter mixture alternately with the champagne. Stir in the chopped peaches.Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the batter until incorporated. Then, fold in the remaining egg whites.Spoon the batter into the prepared cups. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick tester inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.Champagne pastry creamIn a medium bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup of the heavy cream and the cornstarch. Whisk in the whole egg and egg yolks. Set aside.Combine the remaining heavy cream, sugar, and champagne in a saucepan; bring to a boil then remove from the heat. Pour 1/3 of the hot champagne mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly so the eggs do not cook. Return the remaining champagne/heavy cream mixture to a boil. Pour in the hot egg mixture in a stream, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat and beat in the butter and vanilla.Let cool to room temperature. Cover the surface of the pastry cream with plastic wrap so it doesn’t form a skin. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.Peach buttercreamIn the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together the butter and confectioners’ sugar. Add milk or cream a little at a time until the mixture is light, fluffy, and of piping consistency. Add the peach flavor and beat again until incorporated. Add 1-2 drops each of the neon yellow and neon orange food color to the buttercream. Beat until well incorporated, scraping down the bowl when necessary. Add more of each color to intensify the color, if desired. The end result should be a vivid orangey-peach color.Fit a disposable piping bag with a large French pastry tip. Squirt a little of the red food color in a condiment cup. Dip a kitchen-dedicated soft bristle brush into the red food color and paint a line of red food color inside the decorator tip and all the way up the length of the bag. Repeat this step directly across form the first painted line (you could use the piping bag seams for a guide, if your bag has two seams directly across from each other).On a scrap of parchment or paper towel, squeeze a little of the frosting out of the bag until the red color starts to show.AssemblyCore the cupcakes by cutting out a small divot in the centers with a paring knife; save the pieces. Transfer the pastry cream to a disposable piping bag and snip off 1/2 inch hole in the end. Fill each cupcake with about 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of the pastry cream. Trim the cut-out cake pieces flat to create “lids” and place them onto the filled divots.Pipe a swirl of frosting onto a cupcake and immediately sprinkle a pinch of the white nonpareils on top. Repeat this process with each cupcake until all of the cupcakes are frosted and sprinkled. Just before serving, add a fresh mint leaf to each cupcake.
    NotesThe cake portion of this recipe is adapted from “Bellini Belle Cupcakes” from the book Intoxicated Cupcakes by Kate Legere (2011 Running Press). The buttercream recipe and champagne pastry cream recipe are both original to Sprinkle Bakes.

    Keyword bellini cupcake, canned peaches, champagne pastry cream, fresh peaches, peach bellini cupcakes, peach cupcakes

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    Oreo Cupcakes

    These party-perfect Oreo Cupcakes belong at any happy occasion! The cakes are made with rich, black cocoa powder and they’re topped with the best Cookies and Cream buttercream, ever!

    As the baker and recipe blogger of the family, I often get asked questions like “Where’s the Oreo cupcake recipe on your blog, I couldn’t find it.” Which makes me panic a little, and wonder why on earth I don’t already have an Oreo cupcake recipe published, after 14 years of blogging. Sure, I have plenty of other Oreo-themed recipes, but this was an obvious oversight. I’m correcting it today.

    Black cocoa batter.
    This cake recipe starts out as most batters do. First, cream the butter and sugar together in large mixing bowl. Add in an egg, vanilla, and buttermilk. Blend together until smooth.
    Next, whisk the dry ingredients together. Dark cocoa from the grocery store will work just fine and will taste fantastic. But for authentic Oreo flavor, opt for black cocoa. Which can be purchased online. I used this black dutched cocoa powder. It imparts true Oreo cookie flavor.

    Get the wet and dry ingredients together in the same bowl and mix it all up. Beat until the batter is smooth and consistent matte black. Now it’s time to bake!

    Now, this is important – fill the cupcake papers no more than 1/2 full. This batter rises quite a bit, and has a super moist and delicate crumb. These won’t crown much on top. And the only way to check for doneness is with a toothpick inserted in the center of a cake. It should come out clean, or with a few small crumbs clinging to it.
    Divide Oreo cookie shells from their cream centers.

    Cookies and Cream buttercream.
    This buttercream is SOOOO creamy and delicious! I am its biggest fan. The Oreo cream centers are incorporated with the creamed butter and powdered sugar mixture. Then, finely pulverized Oreo cookie shells are mixed in. Use a food processor to get the cookies ground to fine consistency. If you’re like me, you hate dragging out a bulky food processor. But it’s worth it – I promise!

    A learning moment.
    I SO wanted to use these tall cupcake cups for baking the batter, but their shape doesn’t work well with chocolate cake batter. Their tall popover profile encourages the batter to bubble up in the centers and overflow. After several attempts (and oven scrubs) I was forced to resort to standard size liners. Which worked perfectly. However, the tall papers do make cute cupcake holders, so they weren’t a complete loss. Using them made the cakes sturdier, and easier to transport and arrange very moist chocolate cupcakes.

    Transfer the buttercream to a piping bag with a large open star tip. See all of those tiny chocolate flecks? They provide so much Oreo flavor! And again, to drive the point home further – it’s important to grind those cookies fine. Or else they’ll clog the piping tip.

    Garnish each cupcake with a whole Oreo cookie placed to one side of the frosting swirl. Then sprinkle with a little more crushed Oreo cookies.
    Oreo Cupcakes

    The interiors are so soft and moist – and dark! I had a hard time getting a good image of the interior because the cakes are so intensely dark chocolate. Oh well. I tried!
    This is a wonderful sweet thing for any happy occasion, such as birthdays, holidays – or just as an ending to Sunday dinner. Enjoy!

    Oreo Cupcakes

    Here’s a dessert for all occasions! Oreo cupcakes are made of tender sour cream dark chocolate cake and topped with a tall swirl of cookies and cream frosting. Bake these cupcakes in a standard size cupcake pan and fill them only half full of batter. These cakes will rise quite a bit in the oven but won’t dome in the centers. Their moist texture gives them a level top. Check for doneness using a toothpick tester inserted in their centers. The frosting recipe provides enough for a tall triple swirl of buttercream. The recipe can be halved for a more modest amount of frosting.

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    Prep Time 30 minsCook Time 22 minsTotal Time 52 mins

    Course DessertCuisine American

    Servings 20

    Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Dark chocolate cupcakes1/4 cup unsalted butter softened1 cup granulated sugar1/2 cup sour cream1 large egg½ cup buttermilk2 teaspoons vanilla extract1 cup all-purpose flour1/2 cup black cocoa powder or dark cocoa powder such as Hershey’s dark1 teaspoon baking soda1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea saltCookies and cream buttercream20 Oreo sandwich cookies2 cups unsalted butter at room temperature6 cups confectioners’ sugarMilk or cream to thinToppings20 whole Oreo cookies6 Oreo cookie shells crushed in a bag with a rolling pin
    Instructions Dark chocolate cupcakesPreheat the oven to 350F. Line the cupcake pans with 20 paper cupcake liners.In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Add the sour cream, egg, buttermilk, and vanilla. Mix on medium speed until well incorporated.In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture. Beat on low speed until just combined.Divide the batter between the cupcake liners, filling each liner only 1/2 way full. These cupcakes will rise quite a bit in the oven, but will not dome in the centers. Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until a toothpick tester inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, or with a few moist crumbs clinging to the toothpick.Remove from the oven and let cool in the pans for 5-7 minutes. Transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.Cookies and Cream ButtercreamSeparate the Oreo cookies and scrape the cream centers out into a bowl. Add the Oreo cookie shells to a food processor and process until fine crumbs are formed. Set aside.In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter, Oreo cream centers, and the confectioners’ sugar. Beat on medium-low until combined. Increase the speed and beat until lightened in color. Add milk or cream 1 tablespoon at a time to thin the buttercream to piping consistency if needed. Beat 5 minutes on high speed until the buttercream is almost white in color.Add the Oreo crumbs to the buttercream. Mix briefly until the crumbs are well dispersed, about 15 seconds. Scrape down the bowl and fold in any pockets of crumbs.Transfer the buttercream to a large disposable piping bag fitted with a large open star piping tip.Assembly and toppingsPipe a triple swirl of buttercream over each cooled cupcake. Immediately place a whole Oreo cookie into one side of the swirl; top each with a sprinkle of crushed Oreo cookies.Serve immediately, or store in an airtight cupcake keeper at room temperature until ready to serve.
    NotesBe sure to process the Oreo cookies into fine crumbs for the buttercream frosting. Otherwise, large pieces of the Oreos will clog the piping tip when trying to frost the cupcakes.

    Keyword chocolate cupcakes, cookies and cream buttercream, dark chocolate cake, easy cupcake recipe, Oreo buttercream, oreo cookies, Oreo Cupcakes

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    Brown Butter Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Homemade Bourbon Marshmallows

    Move over pumpkin pie! Brown Butter Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Homemade Bourbon Marshmallows are ready to be the star of your Thanksgiving feast.

    It’s not too hard to figure out where the inspiration for these cupcakes came from. When Thanksgiving rolls around my mom always makes a big pan of buttered sweet potatoes topped with golden toasted marshmallows. It’s nearly dessert, but somehow we all accept that it belongs on the plate next to the turkey and dressing.
    Browned butter is what makes the cake extra-special. The toasty flavor harmonizes so well with warm spices and sweet potato.

    Brown that butter.
    Browning butter is easy, but it requires your undivided attention. And it’s the first step of this recipe, so let’s get into it.
    Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Use a light-colored metal saucepan so you can easily see the color of the butter change. It’s much harder to judge the doneness in a dark nonstick pan. Cook until the butter foams and steams. Swirl the pan occasionally as the foam subsides and watch closely as the butter turns golden brown and the milk solids drop to the bottom of the pan. Pour the browned butter and butter solids into a small bowl and let stand until cool but not solidified.

    Mixing the batter.
    Oh, the spices! They will fill your home and give you all the warm and fuzzies. Whisk cinnamon, ginger and allspice into the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine the wet ingredients, which includes unsweet mashed sweet potato. You could boil sweet potatoes on the stovetop in water and then mash them. Or save yourself some trouble. Buy a can of organic sweet potato puree (such as this).

    Combine the wet and dry ingredients until smooth. Then add the browned butter along with the solids. Beat it in with an electric mixer, and you should have a thick, fluffy, perfect-looking cake batter.

    Portion it into cupcake liners using an ice cream scoop. If you don’t have a scoop, then aim for about 2/3 full.

    Look at these beauties! They rise and brown evenly, and have a soft, moist crumb.

    Marshmallow time!
    I would understand if you wanted to plop a toasted ready-made marshmallow right on top of those cupcakes for an easy version of this recipe. However. I adore the bouncy softness of a homemade marshmallow. Ever since I topped this hot cocoa cake with homemade marshmallows. Well. I’m a changed woman.
    They’re not all that difficult to make, but they will need some time to cure. You may want to make them ahead of the cake portion. I’ve added a grace note of bourbon to these marshmallows, which makes my southern heart a little happier, and it tastes divine with the sweet potato sponge.

    After the marshmallow cures in the pan for two hours, slice the slab of marshmallow into 25 squares.

    Simple cinnamon American buttercream is quick to whip up, and the perfect adhesive to hold onto the bourbon marshmallows. You’ll just need a little bit on top of each cupcake. (I used a Sultan tube, which pipes the perfect little ring of frosting.) Lightly toast the marshmallows using a chef’s torch, if you have one. Homemade marshmallows are extremely meltable, so use a light touch.

    There’s a lot of love that goes into these cupcakes, from the browned butter to the homemade marshmallows. And if you’re feeling generous, drizzle a little caramel sauce over the tops of the marshmallows and sprinkle on some pecans. I call these toppings optional because there’s already quite a bit going on, but those finishing touches are nice when serving to a crowd.
    One more thing – not everyone will have a chef’s torch to toast the marshmallows. There are oven instructions for this in the recipe notes.

    Brown Butter Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Homemade Bourbon Marshmallows

    Heather Baird

    These sweet potato cupcakes were inspired by my mom’s Thanksgiving side dish of sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows. There are several steps to this recipe, but I think they are well worth the effort. And especially for the upcoming holidays! You can buy unsweet sweet potato puree canned at most grocery stores, and that’s what I used in this recipe. However, you can also make your own by peeling sweet potatoes, cutting them into 1/2 inch chunks, and boiling them until tender (about 15 minutes). Then mash them until fine, or stick them in a blender to puree.

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    Prep Time 1 hrCook Time 45 minsTotal Time 1 hr 45 mins

    Course DessertCuisine American

    Servings 25 cupcakes

    Equipmentchef’s torch8×8 baking pan2 cupcake panspaper cupcake liners
    Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Sweet potato cupcakes3/4 cup unsalted butter2 cups all-purpose flour1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda3 teaspoons ground cinnamon1 teaspoon ground ginger1/4 teaspoon allspice1 teaspoon salt1 1/2 cups granulated sugar1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar1 1/2 cups sweet potato puree3 large eggs1/2 cup sour creamBourbon marshmallows4 1/2 teaspoons unflavored powdered gelatin1/2 cup bourbon3/4 cup sugar1/2 cup light corn syrup divided1/4 cup water1/8 teaspoon salt2 tablespoons bourbon2/3 cup cornstarch1/2 cup confectioners’ sugarCinnamon buttercream1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature4 cups confectioners’ sugar1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamonMilk or cream to thinOptional toppings1/2 cup prepared caramel sauce1/2 cup chopped pecans
    Instructions Sweet potato cupcakesPreheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake tins with papers.Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Use a light-colored metal saucepan so you can easily see the color of the butter change. It’s much harder to judge the doneness in a dark nonstick pan. Cook until the butter foams and steams. Swirl the pan occasionally as the foam subsides and watch closely as the butter turns golden brown and the milk solids drop to the bottom of the pan. Pour the browned butter and butter solids into a small bowl and let stand until cool but not solidified.In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and salt. Set aside.In a large bowl, whisk the sweet potato puree with the granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs and sour cream until well combined. Stir in the flour mixture and combine until only a few streaks of flour remain. Whisk in the browned butter until well combined.Divide the batter between the cupcake liners using a trigger ice cream scoop. If you don’t have a scoop, fill them about approximately 2/3 full. Bake cupcakes for 20-25 minutes or until they spring back when pressed in the middle. Remove them to a wire rack to cool completely.Bourbon marshmallowsLightly spray an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with cooking spray and wipe away any excess with a paper towel.Let the gelatin dissolve in bourbon 5 minutes, or until well bloomed and thickened.In a medium saucepan with a candy thermometer clipped to the side, stir together the sugar, 1/4 cup corn syrup, 1/4 cup water and salt and place over high heat. Boil, stirring occasionally, until the temperature reaches 240°F. Meanwhile, pour the remaining 1/4 cup corn syrup into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.Microwave the gelatin on high until it is completely melted, about 10-20 seconds. Pour it into the corn syrup. Set the mixer to low, and keep the mixer running while you check the sugar syrup.Once the syrup reaches 240°F, remove it from the heat. Keeping the mixer on low, slowly pour the syrup into the gelatin mixture in a steady stream, aiming for the space between the beater and the bowl. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 5 minutes. Raise the speed to medium-high and beat for 5 more minutes. Beat on the highest setting for 1 to 2 minutes more and beat in the 2 tablespoons bourbon; the finished marshmallow will be opaque white, fluffy, and roughly tripled in volume.Pour the marshmallow into the prepared pan. Use an offset spatula to smooth the top. Combine cornstarch and confectioners’ sugar in a medium bowl to make the coating. Sift coating evenly and generously over the top. Let the marshmallow set for at least 2 hours. When the marshmallow has set, use a knife to loosen the marshmallow from the edges of the pan. Invert the marshmallow slab onto a coating-dusted work surface and dust it with more coating. Cut into 25 large squares and dip the sticky edges of the marshmallows in more coating, patting off the excess. Let stand, uncovered, at room temperature while you prepare the buttercream.Cinnamon buttercreamCombine the butter and confectioners in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on high speed until well combined, about 4 minutes. Add in the cinnamon. Add milk or cream 1 tablespoon at a time with the mixer running until the frosting comes to piping consistency. Transfer the frosting to a large piping bag fitted with a large sultan decorator piping tip (see blog post for link). Alternatively, you can use any large fluted piping tip. AssemblyPipe a small ring of buttercream on a cupcake and immediately top with a marshmallow. Repeat the process of piping and topping until all of the cupcakes are topped. Use a chef’s torch to lightly toast the marshmallows. Homemade marshmallows are extremely meltable, so use a light touch. Garnish each cupcake with a drizzle of caramel and a sprinkle of chopped pecans.Store the cupcakes airtight for up to 2 days at room temperature.
    NotesIf you don’t have a chef’s torch, place the marshmallows on a baking sheet and broil them for 2 minutes in the oven. As I stated before, homemade marshmallows are very meltable. When lightly toasted remove them from the oven and place them in the refrigerator to firm. When firm enough to move, transfer them with a spatula to the frosted cupcakes.
    To shortcut this recipe, you could use ready-made jumbo marshmallows instead of making the homemade bourbon marshmallows.

    Keyword brown butter cupcakes, homemade marshmallows, sweet potato cupcakes, Thanksgiving dessert

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    Buttered Popcorn Cupcakes

    Make Movie Night even more fun with Buttered Popcorn Cupcakes! Buttery yellow cupcakes are topped with popcorn-flavored Swiss meringue buttercream and garnished with crunchy theater-style popcorn.

    I’ve always loved experimenting with the flavor of popcorn in my sweets and baked goods. Back in 2014, when I was writing Sea Salt Sweet, I developed a silky, salty-sweet Buttered Popcorn Panna Cotta (page 147, for those that have it). Corn is sweet by nature, and already holds buttery notes. I think the flavor works remarkably well in desserts.
    Today I’m adding another to the recipe index: Buttered Popcorn Cupcakes. They have true butter popcorn flavor, in a Willy Wonka’s Candy Factory kind of way. Or if you’re a fan of Jelly Belly’s Buttered Popcorn Jelly Beans? Well then. These are the cupcake version!

    The flavor makers.
    Start with my butter yellow cupcake recipe as the base for this confection. Cream together butter, sugar, and eggs, then add in the magic ingredient: Buttered Popcorn Flavoring Oil. Fat is an excellent carrier of flavor, so mixing it in at this stage with the butter ensures it will disperse well throughout the batter.

    Add the dry ingredients and mix well until a thick pale yellow batter forms. Then scoop the batter into the cavities of a lined cupcake pan. This recipe makes exactly 12 cupcakes.

    This step is optional, but I couldn’t help myself. I lightly brushed the top of each cupcake with melted salted butter. This just creates another layer of buttery flavor.

    The right buttercream for the job.
    Swiss meringue buttercream is the perfect choice for these cakes, and I’ll tell you why. It does not crust like American buttercream does. When a frosting ‘crusts’ it means the outer layer sets and becomes un-sticky. The popcorn garnish needs to be added just before serving so it’s nice and crunchy. Frost these cupcakes well ahead of time with the Swiss buttercream, and the frosting will keep its freshly piped texture. Well enough to hold on the popcorn just before you serve them to guests.

    Pop your own corn, if you’d like. But the color and flavor of this prepackaged Brim’s ‘Movie Theater Butter” popcorn is a ringer for the real thing! I love it, and it’s made right here in Tennessee, too!

    Pipe a big double swirl of buttercream on top of each cake and top with a handful of popcorn. I used a large open star pastry tip, which is Ateco 828.

    You can find the super-cute ‘TICKET’ cupcake wrappers right here, and the red and white stripe cups here.

    Adventurous eaters and fans of Jelly Belly’s Buttered Popcorn Jellybeans will love these cupcakes! They’re perfect for family movie night. Or bookmark this recipe for next year’s Oscars viewing at home.
    Check out my (award-winning!) Olive Oil Jalapeno Cornmeal Cake with Candied Citrus, if you’re just dipping a toe in to experimenting with corn flavor in desserts. It’s a good gateway to popcorn in desserts, and a wonderful ending to any meal.

    Buttered Popcorn Cupcakes

    Heather Baird

    Amaze your friends with the true flavor of buttered popcorn in cake form! Buttered Popcorn Cupcakes are delicious buttery treats that are perfect for the big game or family movie night. Please note, the Swiss meringue buttercream uses salted butter in this recipe, to convey the flavor of salty buttered popcorn. You may have buttercream left over if you don’t pipe a big double swirl as pictured. You may opt to halve the buttercream recipe if you plan for a more modest amount of frosting.

    #wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-full svg * { fill: #5A822B; }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-33 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-50 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-66 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66); }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }No ratings yet

    Prep Time 20 minsCook Time 20 minsTotal Time 40 mins

    Course DessertCuisine American

    Servings 12 cupcakes

    EquipmentCupcake pan12 cupcake liners6 “ticket” cupcake wrappers optional6 red and white stripe baking cups optional
    Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Cupcakes1/2 cup unsalted butter softened3/4 cup granulated sugar2 large eggs at room temperature1 dram bottle LorAnn Buttered Popcorn Flavor .125 oz1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt1/2 cup buttermilk at room temperatureSwiss meringue buttercream and garnish4 large egg whites1 cup granulated sugar1 1/2 cups salted butter at room temperature1 dram bottle LorAnn Buttered Popcorn Flavor .125 oz.Yellow gel food colorOrange gel food color3 cups prepared movie theater style popcorn such as Brim’s
    Instructions Yellow butter cupcakesPreheat the oven to 350°F. Line a cupcake pan with 12 paper liners.In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar and medium speed until fluffy and lightened in color. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the buttered popcorn flavor. Scrape down the bowl and mix to incorporate once more.In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to combine.Add the flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to the creamed mixture. Begin and end with flour, and mix on low speed until just combined. Scrape down the bowl and fold together any bits of remaining butter or flour by hand.Using an ice cream scoop, or a 1/4 cup measure, divide the batter evenly between the muffin cups.Bake the cupcakes for 20 minutes or until they spring back when pressed in their centers. Allow them to cool in the pan for 3 -5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.Buttered popcorn Swiss meringue buttercreamPlace a saucepan filled 1/3 full of water over medium heat. Bring to a simmer.In a large stainless-steel bowl, combine the egg whites and sugar. Set the bowl over the simmering water and cook while whisking intermittently. Cook until the mixture is hot (110°F) and you can no longer feel sugar granules when the mixture is rubbed between your finger and thumb. Transfer the hot mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed for 10 minutes or until a thick, shiny meringue forms that holds stiff peaks. The bowl should feel cool to the touch. If it doesn’t, refrigerate the meringue in the bowl for 10 minutes. Return the bowl to the mixer and swap the whisk attachment for the paddle attachment.Beat the room temperature butter into the meringue one cube at a time on medium-low speed, waiting to add the next cube when the previous cube disappears. The batter will deflate with the butter addition, and may even look curdled (if the butter was the slightest bit cold this happens), but this is normal. When all of the butter is added, beat the mixture on high speed until light in color and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the buttered popcorn flavor. Add drops of yellow gel food color until a bright yellow hue is achieved. Add 1 or 2 drops of orange food color to bring the hue closer to the color of theatre style buttery popcorn. Scrape down the bowl and beat on high speed until fluffy and the color is consistent.Place the buttercream in a large pastry bag fitted with a large French piping tip, such as Ateco #828. Pipe a large double swirl of buttercream on top of each cupcake. Don’t top cupcakes with the popcorn until just before serving.Just before serving or displaying cupcakes, top each with a handful of crunchy theater style popcorn. The popcorn will become hydrated over time, so serve within an hour of garnishing.
    NotesOptional step: While the cupcakes are still slightly warm, brush their tops with a little melted salted butter. This adds an extra layer of buttery flavor. About 2 tablespoons will be more than enough.
    Use your favorite ready-made popcorn for this recipe, or you can pop your own. I love prepackaged Brim’s movie theater-style popcorn for this recipe.
    Swiss meringue buttercream video tutorial can be found in this blog post. 

    Keyword butter cake, buttered popcorn, movie night, swiss meringue buttercream, yellow cake

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    Tagalong Cupcakes

    This recipe for Tagalong Cupcakes is inspired by the classic Girl Scout cookie. Chocolate cake is topped with creamy peanut butter frosting with a Tagalong cookie as an edible topper.

    It’s Girl Scout cookie time! Do you have a favorite? I’m a Tagalongs and Samoas girl, through-and-through.
    Last week when I was leaving my local home improvement store, I was suddenly surrounded by some uniformed, and very official-looking cookie sellers.
    “Do you want to buy some cookies?” Never one to pass up Girl Scout cookies, of course I did! When I said, “YES!” the girls did fist bumps and an end zone-style dance in the parking lot that kind of made my whole week. I smile just thinking about it.
    So, I left with two boxes each of Tagalongs and Samoas, with the idea that one of them would inspire another sweet treat. The new giant jar of peanut butter in my cupboard sealed the deal for Tagalongs-inspired cupcakes.

    Creaming the mixture
    Begin the cake portion by creaming the butter with brown sugar. Then adding the eggs one at a time. The batter is easy enough to manage using a hand mixer. (Although I wish I had used a deeper bowl – I had a few splatters!)

    Add dark unsweetened cocoa powder, and be sure to sift it first! It tends to clump. Pour in a splash of vanilla extract, also, then mix it all up.

    Alternate mixing the flour and sour cream into the butter mixture. Begin and end with the flour. Mix each in until just combined.

    Beat the batter until light and fluffy, then pour in the brewed coffee. Mix until well combined.

    These cakes won’t crown much either, so don’t get worried if they look flat on top. This is normal. The cakes are ultra soft and tender, so it’s important to let them cool completely before unwrapping them. Otherwise they’ll stick to the liners. However, they peel away from the liners perfectly when cool.
    You may recognize the cake part of this recipe. It’s from these Triple Chocolate Devil’s Food Cake Cupcakes I made back in 2017. They are equally delicious topped with peanut butter buttercream!

    Creamy peanut butter buttercream.
    Pipe the peanut butter frosting on top of each cake. Essentially you’ll need just three ingredients: creamy peanut butter, salted butter, and confectioners’ sugar. I recommend frosting these cake with just 2-3 tablespoons of frosting. This is rich stuff!

    Unbox the Tagalongs while resisting the urge to eat 1 or 6, and top each frosted cupcake with a cookie.

    Chocolate sprinkles are optional (or are they?). But I think they look even more delicious with them. Use real chocolate sprinkles such as DeRuijter brand and you won’t be sorry.

    Tagalong cookies make a perfectly delicious little hat for these cupcakes. This is a must-make for chocolate-peanut butter lovers!

    Talk about rich and decadent! These, without a doubt, will satisfy any chocolate-peanut butter craving. Be sure to check out the video I made if you have questions about the batter mixing technique. It’s easy and creates the most velvety textured chocolate cake.

    Tagalong Cupcakes (Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cookie Cupcakes)

    Heather Baird

    This recipe for Tagalong Cupcakes is inspired by the classic Girl Scout cookie. Chocolate cake is topped with creamy peanut butter frosting with a Tagalong cookie as an edible topper.These cakes won’t crown much, so don’t worry if they look flat on top. This is normal. The cakes are ultra-soft and tender, so it’s important to let them cool completely before unwrapping them (otherwise they’ll stick to the liners). However, they peel away from the liners perfectly when cool.

    #wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-full svg * { fill: #5A822B; }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-33 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-50 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-66 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66); }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }5 from 1 vote

    Prep Time 15 minsCook Time 22 mins1 hour cooling time 1 hrTotal Time 1 hr 37 mins

    Course DessertCuisine American

    Servings 24

    EquipmentCupcake pans (2)disposable pastry bagLarge 1” round open piping tip, optional
    Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Chocolate cupcakes1 cup unsalted butter softened1 1/2 cups light brown sugar packed2 eggs at room temperature6 tablespoons unsweet dark cocoa powder sifted1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda1 teaspoon vanilla extract1/4 teaspoon salt1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour2/3 cup sour cream room temperature3/4 cup hot coffeePeanut butter buttercream1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter at room temperature1 1/2 cups salted butter (or unsalted, see notes) at room temperature2 cups confectioners’ sugar24 Tagalongs Girl Scouts cookies1/3 cup chocolate sprinkles such as DeRuijeter real dark chocolate sprinkles
    Instructions Chocolate cupcakesPreheat oven to 350°F. Line two cupcake tins with paper liners.In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter in a large bowl until creamy. Add the sugar; mix well. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Mix until lightened in color. Add the cocoa, baking soda, vanilla extract and salt; beat well to combine.Beat in the flour in 3 additions alternately with the sour cream, begin and end with flour.Add the hot coffee at the end and mix until a smooth batter forms. Using a trigger ice cream scoop, portion the batter into the prepared pans. Bake the cupcakes for 17-22 minutes, or until a toothpick tester comes out clean, or with a few damp crumbs clinging to it. These cupcakes do not bake with a crown; they should be flat on top. These cakes are very tender when warm, so let them cool in the pans 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.Peanut butter frostingIn the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the peanut butter and butter. Beat until creamy and well incorporated. Add the confectioners’ sugar and beat until thick and slightly lightened in color. If your frosting seems thick, you can add milk or cream 1 tablespoon at a time until it loosens. (I did not have to do this, but powdered sugar brands vary in cornstarch content, which can make a difference.)Transfer the frosting to a large disposable piping bag fitted with a 1” round piping tip (alternatively just snip 1” hole in the end of a pastry bag). Pipe about 2 tablespoons worth of frosting in a mound on top of each cupcake. Top each cake with a Tagalong cookie. Pour chocolate sprinkles into a shallow dish and gently roll the edges of the cupcake in the sprinkles. You could also just sprinkle them over the cakes, if you prefer.Enjoy one right away, then make people happy by sharing!
    NotesNo salted butter on hand? You can use unsalted in the frosting along with 1/4 teaspoon of fine grain salt.
    It’s important to make every effort to support the Girl Scouts, But if you don’t have a Girl Scouts cookie seller in your area, or if it’s off-season, you can find a close approximation of Tagalongs at Aldi stores. They are simply packaged as Benton’s “Peanut Butter Filled Cookies”.  

    Keyword chocolate sprinkles, devil’s food cake, peanut butter buttercream, Tagalongs cookies

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    Coffee Cupcakes

    Coffee Cupcakes are sure to please any coffee enthusiast! Coffee-infused cupcakes are topped with rich salted coffee buttercream and topped with coffee-glazed chocolate doughnuts.

    I’ll take coffee just about any way I can get it, but I’m especially excited about these Coffee Cupcakes. My favorite Tiramisu Cupcakes definitely have some new competition for an afternoon pick-me-up. Loaded with coffee flavor, they’re not too sweet. The salted coffee buttercream? It’s so good! The salt tempers any bitterness for a smooth flavor. And if that weren’t enough, I baked up a batch of mini chocolate doughnuts and covered them with coffee glaze. It’s a coffee-lover’s sweet dream come true!

    Coffee flavor in an instant.
    Instant espresso powder is my preferred ingredient for making any baked good have obvious coffee flavor. It’s easy to use and widely available. I can’t recommend it enough! I use it in all of the components of this cupcake. Instant coffee will work also, if you have a favorite brand. Starbucks VIA comes to mind, because it’s high quality, has big coffee flavor, and there are several varieties to choose from (such as Pike Place and Italian Roast).

    Bake the batter in paper liners for about 20 minutes. The coffee cupcakes come out of the oven so beautifully caramel-colored, and have a sponge that bounces back when you press it.

    MVP coffee buttercream.
    This buttercream. Crème au beurre au café (French coffee buttercream). It’s so dreamy. I have tried many different coffee buttercream recipes, and I prefer this one above all. You may recognize it from the Mocha Yule Log Cakes I made last December. It’s also an important layer in Classic Opera Cake. You just can’t get any better coffee bang for your buck. None of the alternatives came close to its silky texture and flavor. This recipe requires the use of a candy thermometer. However, it’s worth the little extra effort for the end result.

    This recipe makes 20 cupcakes. I’ve scaled the frosting recipe to fit the yield accordingly. Pipe a nice big swirl on each cupcake that’s not too tall, and you’ll have the perfect ratio of frosting to cake.

    Bite-size doughnuts.
    That mini doughnut pan that I bought 11-ish years ago? I still have it. At the time, I wondered if I was just clogging up my cabinet space. But it’s turned out to be such a useful tool. I whipped up some chocolate cake doughnuts for cute cupcake toppers- because who doesn’t love a little chocolate with their coffee?

    The doughnut recipe will make more than you’ll need to top the cupcakes, but I don’t really see that as a problem. They’re tiny, delicious, two-bite treats that will be eaten up before you know it.

    Coffee glaze seemed just the thing to make these the ultimate triple threat coffee cupcakes. The sponge, frosting, and donut toppers all have a coffee element.

    Just after glazing, sprinkle on some tiny white nonpareils if you have them. They are just the right size to garnish the doughnuts. They’re not too heavy so they won’t slide off. Let them stand until the glaze firms.

    Top each cupcake with a coffee-glazed chocolate doughnut. Yum! These look so cute all lined up on a serving tray. I think they’re perfect for an office party, or a book club meeting, or just as a gift for your favorite coffee connoisseur.

    These cupcakes are intense yet well balanced. The frosting flavor is like salty-sweet coffee with cream. (Salted coffee is a thing for a reason!) The little chocolate doughnut on top is a wonderful accent with the coffee flavors.

    Coffee Cupcakes with Salted Coffee Buttercream

    Heather Baird

    These cupcakes have a triple dose of coffee flavor in the cake, frosting and the doughnut glaze!The frosting has obvious salty-sweet flavor in the same way salted caramel tastes. If you’re not a fan of salty sweets, then reduce the amount of salt in the buttercream from 1/2 teaspoon to 1/4 teaspoon. Use fine grain sea salt, which is less salty than table salt. Sea salt retains minerals and flavor that is removed from ordinary table salt.Espresso powder can be found in the coffee aisle at the grocery store, and sometimes in the baking aisle. I use DeLallo brand and Medaglia D’oro brands most often. High quality freeze-dried instant coffee can be used in place of espresso powder. For example, Starbucks VIA instant coffee has bold coffee flavor, is micro-ground, and dissolves easily. Don’t skip sifting the flour. It creates a light, airy texture in these cakes.

    #wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-full svg * { fill: #5A822B; }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-33 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-50 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-66 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66); }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }No ratings yet

    Prep Time 40 minsCook Time 54 minsTotal Time 1 hr 34 mins

    Course DessertCuisine American

    Servings 20

    Equipment2 Cupcake pan20 cupcake liners1 mini donut pan see blog post for link1 disposable pastry bag
    Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Coffee cupcakes1/4 cup hot water2 tablespoons instant espresso powder or instant coffee2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 10.14 oz. sifted1 teaspoon baking soda1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt1 cup granulated sugar1/4 cup brown sugar packed1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature1 teaspoon vanilla extract3 large eggs at room temperature1 cup buttermilk at room temperatureSalted coffee buttercream1 1/2 cup granulated sugar1/2 cup water3 large eggs at room temperature2 1/4 cups unsalted butter softened4 1/2 tablespoons instant espresso powder dissolved in 2 tablespoon hot water1/2 teaspoon fine grain saltDoughnut batter2/3 cup all-purpose flour sifted1/3 cup dark cocoa powder6 tablespoons granulated sugar1 tsp. baking powder1/4 tsp. salt6 tablespoons buttermilk at room temperature1 tsp. vanilla extract1 egg lightly beaten, room temperature1 tbsp. butter meltedCoffee doughnut glaze1 tablespoon hot milk plus more to thin if needed1 teaspoon instant espresso powder or instant coffee1 cup powdered sugarWhite nonpareils
    Instructions Coffee cupcakesPreheat oven to 350°F. Line 20 cupcake cavities with paper liners.Combine 1/4 cup hot water and 2 tablespoons espresso powder (or instant coffee) in a small bowl; stir to dissolve.Sift together the flour, baking soda, and sea salt. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the sugar, brown sugar and butter. Beat well on medium speed until well combined, 3 minutes. Add vanilla extract. Beat in eggs one at a time. Scrape down the bowl as needed and mix again.Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the bowl and beat until just combined. Beat in half of the buttermilk. Alternate the remaining flour and buttermilk, ending with the flour. Mix the last flour in until just combined. Scrape down the bowl and fold to make sure all the ingredients are well incorporated.Use a trigger ice cream scoop (1/4 cup) or a 1/4 cup measure to portion batter into each cupcake liner, filling each about 2/3 full. Bake for 17-20 minutes, or until the cakes bounce back when pressed in their centers, or when a toothpick tester comes out completely clean.Transfer the baked cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.Salted coffee buttercreamIn a small heavy saucepan set over medium heat, dissolve the sugar in the water. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Continue to cook until it registers 240°F on a candy thermometer.Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment beat the eggs until they are thick and pale, about 5 minutes on medium high speed. While mixer is running, add the sugar syrup in a thin stream, carefully tempering the syrup into the eggs without cooking them. Beat until the mixing bowl is cool.Change to the paddle attachment and add the softened butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. The mixture will deflate and look runny, then curdled. Keep adding butter and mixing. This buttercream goes through several ugly stages before it reaches fluffy consistency. When all the butter is added, add the espresso mixture and salt. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy.Doughnut batterPreheat oven to 425°F. Spray a mini donut pan with nonstick cooking spray.In large mixing bowl, sift together all-purpose flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, and butter and beat until just combined. Transfer the batter to a disposable piping bag and fill each donut cavity approximately 1/2 full. Don’t be tempted to overfill the cavities, too much batter will make these doughnuts too tall and they won’t have a hole.Bake 5-8 minutes or until the top of the donuts spring back when touched. Let cool in pan for 2 minutes before removing.Doughnut glazeIn small bowl, mix together the hot milk and instant espresso powder until dissolved.Stir together sugar and espresso mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved. The glaze should be thick and almost opaque. Add more milk drops at a time to thin, if needed. Dip the rounded sides of the doughnuts into the glaze, about five doughnuts at a time. Wait 10 seconds then sprinkle on the nonpareils. Keep working in batches of 5 donuts until they’re all glazed and sprinkled.Allow the doughnuts to stand until the glaze sets, about 15 minutes. Top each frosted cupcake with a single mini doughnut.Store airtight at room temperature for 3-4 days, or they’ll keep for up to a week if refrigerated. Bring chilled cupcakes to room temperature before serving.
    NotesFlour: Use the spoon and sweep method for measuring flour if you don’t have a scale. Spoon the flour into the measuring cups then sweep it level with the back of a butter knife. Don’t forget to sift! Sifting is important to create a light texture. 
    Optimal temp for ingredients: Bring the ingredients to room temperature before mixing them together. In my workshop room temperature ranges from 68-70F. 
    Doughnut toppers: If you don’t have a mini doughnut pan, and don’t want to buy one, you could bake the chocolate doughnut batter in a mini cupcake tin instead. Spray the cavities with flour-based baking spray and bake until done, about 6 minutes. Cover the tops with the doughnut glaze and add nonpareils. 
     

    Keyword coffee cake, instant espresso powder, mini chocolate doughnuts, salted coffee buttercream

    You may also enjoy: LEGGI TUTTO

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    Pina Colada Cupcakes

    These tropical Pina Colada Cupcakes have crushed pineapple, coconut, and rum in the batter. The coconut icing is sweet and creamy – like a vacation in cupcake form!

    We’ve been enjoying the first few sunny, spring-like days here. I’ve been aching for days like these while growing tired of winter’s landscape. I know pina colada flavors are more popular in summer months, but I just couldn’t help myself. March started off with my dad having heart surgery. Which, as you can imagine, was scary and anxiety-inducing. (He’s going to be just fine!) But after all the grey days, and the hospital ambiance, I felt like needed a vacation – even if it’s in cupcake form.
    Chock-full of pineapple and coconut, and topped with light coconut buttercream, these Pina Colada Cupcakes are just the little respite I needed.

    Batter mixing.
    Start by creaming sugar and butter together, then adding eggs one at a time. This is a predictable beginning for cake making, and the quantity of batter is easy enough to manage using a hand mixer.

    Next, add in all of the batter’s liquid ingredients. This includes a big dose of rum. Coconut rum will give you the best flavor, but if you just have regular rum on hand that’s fine too. The alcohol content will cook out during baking and leave behind the concentrated rum flavors. If you’d rather not use alcohol, you can substitute an equal amount of canned coconut milk with a half teaspoon of rum extract.

    Fold in the flavor!
    Mix in the flour until a fluffy cake batter is formed. Then, fold in flake coconut and crushed pineapple. For this recipe, I prefer unsweet flaked coconut, but most home bakers will have sweetened flaked coconut on hand. That will work too, the end result will just be slightly sweeter. I recommend giving the sweetened coconut an extra chop before adding it to the batter. It can be rather stringy otherwise, and shortening the strands makes for a nicer texture in the cakes.

    Fill the muffin cups with the batter. A trigger ice cream scoop does the job just right, about 2/3 full.

    Simple piping.
    After the cupcakes are baked and cooled, frost them using a simple coconut buttercream made with butter, confectioners’ sugar, heavy cream, and coconut extract. I used a piping bag fitted with 1/2 inch round decorator tip to pipe a circle of frosting around the outer edge of each cake. You can do this too, or simply smear on a little frosting around the edge with an offset spatula. Either way, dip this first layer of frosting in toasted coconut flakes.

    Then, use a bag of frosting fitted with a closed star piping tip to make a tall swirl inside the toasted coconut circle.

    Add a maraschino cherry on top, and if you’re feeling fancy, decorate them cocktail-style with a mini paper umbrella (found here).

    I sat each cake inside pretty gingham paper cups for a pretty presentation. You can find them here. You can bake the cupcakes directly in these liners, but they are bigger than standard liners. Since most people use regular paper liners, I wanted my recipe testing to reflect that. You’ll get about 16 cupcakes in standard liners.

    The ingredients for these Piña Colada Cupcakes are simple and widely available year-round, so that’s when you should make them. Meaning, whenever you have the craving for them (or need a mini vacay!).
    If you’re looking for something a bit lighter, but still sweet and tropical tasting, check out my Tropical Ambrosia Salad!

    Pina Colada Cupcakes

    Heather Baird

    It doesn’t have to be summer to enjoy these tropical cupcakes! They’re great year-round. So refreshing and full of pina colada flavor.
    See the recipe notes for tips on how to serve these with no alcohol added, and for my favorite alternate whipped cream topping. It’s chilly and creamy – perfect for the warm days ahead.

    #wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-full svg * { fill: #5A822B; }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-33 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-50 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-66 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66); }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }No ratings yet

    Prep Time 20 minsCook Time 22 minsTotal Time 42 mins

    Course DessertCuisine American

    Servings 16

    EquipmentCupcake tins (2)Cupcake liners (16)Trigger ice cream scoop, optionalDisposable piping bags (2)Large 1/2-inch round decorator tipLarge closed star decorator tipPaper cocktail umbrellas, optional
    Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Cupcakes1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour sifted1/2 teaspoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt10 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature1 1/4 cups granulated sugar3 large eggs at room temperature1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract3 tablespoons whole milk at room temperature1/4 cup coconut rum or plain rum mixed with 1 teaspoon coconut extract1/4 cup unsweet flake coconut or sweetened flake coconut chopped finer1/2 cup crushed pineapple drainedCoconut Buttercream1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature4 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt1/3 cup heavy whipping cream plus more to thin if needed2 1/2 teaspoons coconut extract1/3 cup toasted coconut for garnish (see notes)16 maraschino cherries drained and patted dry with paper towels
    Instructions CupcakesPreheat the oven to 350F. Line cupcake pans with 16 cupcake liners.Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl; whisk to combine.In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla, milk, and rum, and mix on low speed. Beat for 3-5 minutes until the consistency is smooth. Add the flour mixture and beat until just combined.Add the flaked coconut and pineapple; fold in by hand.Divide the batter between the prepared pans, filling each cavity about 2/3 full (a trigger ice cream scoop is perfect for portioning!).Bake for 20-24 minutes, or until a toothpick tester comes out clean. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.Coconut buttercreamIn the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whip attachment, beat together the butter and confectioners’ sugar on low speed. When the mixture is just combined, add the salt and mix again. Increase the mixer speed to medium and add the heavy cream and coconut extract. When just combined, raise the speed to high and beat for 5-7 minutes. Add more heavy cream to reach smooth piping consistency, if needed. Beat until the frosting is lightened to almost white color and fluffy.Transfer 1/2 of the frosting to a piping bag fitted with the 1/2-inch round tip. Transfer the other half to a piping bag fitted with the large closed star tip.Place the toasted coconut on a shallow dish.Pipe a circle of frosting around the top edge of a cupcake using the 1/2-inch round tip frosting bag. Immediately dip the edges of the frosting into the toasted coconut (see video for technique).Pipe a swirl of frosting in the center of the cupcake using the large closed star tip frosting bag. Top with a maraschino cherry and a cocktail umbrella.Repeat the process with the remaining cupcakes until they are all frosted and decorated.
    NotesFlake coconut: I use unsweet flake coconut for this recipe, which is finer and drier than sweetened flake coconut. You can use sweetened flake coconut instead. It tends to be damp and stringy, so chop it finer before adding it to this recipe. The end result will be slightly sweeter.
    To toast coconut, sprinkle it on a 13×9 baking sheet. Bake at 350F for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown. Cool before using on the cupcakes.
    Whipped cream frosting alternative: To make these chilly for summertime, replace the coconut buttercream recipe with homemade whipped cream. Beat 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream in a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment until soft peaks form. Add 1/4 cup of fine granulated sugar while beating. Beat in 2 teaspoons coconut extract. Divide whipped cream between the designated piping bags with decorator tips and pipe as directed.
    No alcohol version: Replace the 1/4 cup of rum with 1/4 cup canned coconut milk; add 1/2 teaspoon rum extract to the recipe. You can also use 1/4 cup of pineapple juice in place of the rum. It may curdle the batter a little due to the pineapple enzymes, but will become more consistent when the flour mixture is added.

    Keyword coconut rum, crushed pineapple, flake coconut, heavy cream, maraschino cherries

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    Sugar Plum Fairy Cupcakes

    Fluffy almond cupcakes are filled with delicious plum preserves and topped with a tall swirl of purple buttercream. Lavender sanding sugar makes them sparkle and gives them a crunchy bite.

    It’s not hard to guess what inspired these cupcakes! I can practically hear Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairies from the Nutcracker Suite when I look at them. When I was a teenager, my mom would take me to see the live ballet in December, and I’d marvel at the athleticism – effortless leaps and twirls that seemed to go on and on! It was pure magic.
    When I found a package of old-school ballerina toppers hidden in my stash of cake decors, I knew I wanted to capture a little of that magic in cupcake form.

    This recipe makes a whole troupe of cupcakes!  Plenty for you to enjoy and share with friends. If you do plan to share, you’ll need some extra-tall cupcake boxes (like this) to accommodate the tiny dancers, or you could scale down the frosting swirl just a wee bit! (I’m a frosting girl, can you tell?)

    The recipe begins with a one-bowl cupcake recipe. That means that all the ingredients are stirred up in one big bowl and there’s less dishes to do! The cakes bake to a firm yet soft crumb that’s perfect for filling. Damson plum filling is delicious in these cupcakes, and you can find the brand I use here. 

    For the piped frosting, I used a large drop flower tip (Wilton 2D) to pipe white flowers around the outer edge of the cupcakes. For the center, a large open star tip (Ateco 828) makes a tall soft serve-style swirl.

    These vintage-inspired ballerinas got a sugar plum makeover with pinky-purple acrylic paint and German glitter. You can find the ballerinas here, in my pal Amanda’s shop Cranky Cakes.  

    The plum preserves give the almond cakes a tart, fruity note which is nice with all of that buttercream, but I think my favorite part is the lavender sanding sugar on top. You’ll get a little sugar crunch between your teeth when you bite them!Sugar Plum Fairy Cupcakes 
    [Click for Printable Version]
    Yields about 20 cupcakesCakes
    2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
    1 1/2 cups (300g) sugar 
    2 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
    1 teaspoon salt
    1/2 cup shortening (very soft but not melted, Crisco is best)
    3/4 cup milk 
    2 large eggs
    2 teaspoons almond extract
    1 1/2 cups plum preservesPreheat the oven to 350F. Line two cupcake tins with papers.In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the soft/room temperature shortening, milk, vanilla and eggs. Beat together using a hand mixer until all the ingredients are well blended; don’t over-beat (over-beating will cause the centers to sink as they bake).Pour into the prepared pans, about three-quarters full. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick tester comes out clean when inserted in the center of a cupcake. Transfer cupcakes to wire cooling racks and cool completely.When the cupcakes are cooled, cut a hole in the top of each cupcake and remove the cake piece. It should be large enough to accommodate 1 tablespoon of preserves. Trim the cake piece flat and replace on top of the cupcake.Almond Buttercream
    1 lb. unsalted butter, at room temperature
    2 lb. (1 large bag, about 8 cups) confectioners’ sugar
    Milk or cream to thin (I used 5-6 tablespoons)
    2 teaspoons almond extract
    Neon purple food color
    Lavender sanding sugar
    Ballerina cupcake toppers, 20 ct.In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whip attachment, beat the butter until creamy; add the confectioner’s sugar and beat on low speed. When the sugar is mostly absorbed, increase the mixer speed. Add milk or cream a little at a time until the mixture comes to piping consistency (soft, but not too lax). Beat in the almond extract.Transfer 1/3 of the white icing to a piping bag fitted with a large closed star tip. With the mixer running, add the neon purple food color a little at a time to the remaining buttercream. When a vibrant purple hue is achieved, transfer the frosting to a large piping bag fitted with a large open star tip. Have the sanding sugar placed in a bowl and ready to hand before you begin piping.Using the white icing, pipe stars around the outside edge of each cupcake. Using the purple icing, pipe a large swirl in the center of a cupcake and immediately sprinkle with lavender sanding sugar. Continue piping purple swirls on the cupcakes, and immediately after piping a swirl top it with sanding sugar (don’t wait around – the buttercream will crust and the sugar won’t stick!).Top each cupcake with a ballerina topper, if using.

    link Sugar Plum Fairy Cupcakes By Heather Baird Published: Tuesday, December 08, 2020Tuesday, December 08, 2020Sugar Plum Fairy Cupcakes Recipe LEGGI TUTTO