Thursday, January 27, 2011

Vanilla Mini Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache and Buttercream Icing



This is the view from my kitchen window this morning.  As much as I am tired of all the shoveling and snowblowing, it does look very peaceful and bright.  If this was the last snow of the season I would be very happy but the weathermen are already forecasting more for this weekend and the beginning of next week. I guess this is why everyone looks forward to spring and summer so much.      

This week I had a meeting I had to attend and I was asked to bring a dessert.  These mini cupcakes were perfect.  They are bite size and not too messy and everyone loved them including my husband who I saved a few for.  

 
Vanilla Mini Cupcakes

This recipe makes 96 mini cupcakes.  Since most people don't need that many you can certainly cut this recipe in half.  Here is the full recipe.

2 cups sugar
3-1/2 cups flour
2-1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter, room temperature
1-1/4 cup milk
3 tsp vanilla extract
4 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and put cupcake liners into mini cupcakes tins.

In a large bowl whisk together sugar, flour, baking powder and salt.  Add butter and beat with mixer until mixture looks sandy. Combine milk and vanilla and add all at once.  Mix at low speed for 30 seconds, then increase speed to medium and beat for 30 seconds.  Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.  With the mixer running at low add 1 egg.  Increase speed to medium and beat for 30 seconds. Repeat this process with the second egg.  Continue adding eggs, scraping after each addition until all 4 are added.  After the last egg is added, scrape the bowl and beat at medium for 30 more seconds.  Scoop by heaping teaspoons into prepared mini muffin tins. The muffin tins will be 1/2 full. Bake for 9 minutes. 


Time to make the ganache while they are baking.

12 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup heavy cream
6 tbsp of butter

Pour chocolate chips into bowl.  Pour heavy cream into saucepan and add butter.  Cook both until just before boiling.  Pour melted butter and cream over chocolate chips.



Let sit 20 seconds and then stir.  It needs alot of stirring but it will eventually come together.



When the cupcakes have cooled enough add a spoonful of ganache to the top of each one.
While the ganache is cooling its time to make the vanilla buttercream icing.


Vanilla Buttercream Icing

1 stick of butter unsalted at room temperature
3/4 tsp vanilla
1/2 of a box of confectioners sugar
3-4 tbsp heavy cream

In your mixer add the butter, vanilla and confectioners sugar.  Add 1/2 of the heavy cream.  Beat until
creamy.  Add more cream if necessary.  Put into piping bag or frost by hand. Add sprinkles if you would like.



Enjoy!   Susan

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