Chocolate Mascarpone Buttercream Food

MASCARPONE CREAM

Steps:

• Chill your mixing bowl and whisk attachment in the freezer for 30 minutes to help this mascarpone cream whip up better.
• Place 1 cup (8 oz.) of cold, drained mascarpone cheese into the chilled mixing bowl and mix on a medium low speed until smooth.
• Pour in 1 cup of powdered sugar, and mix on low at first to avoid powdered sugar clouds / explosions. Increase the speed to medium high once the powdered sugar is incorporated and mix for about 1 minute. Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed throughout this process.
• Add in 1 tsp of vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste, then turn the mixer to a medium high speed and gradually pour in 2 1/2 cups of cold heavy cream. I like to do this in about 4 additions and focus on pouring the heavy cream down the side of the bowl to prevent it from splattering.
• Watch the mixture closely once the heavy cream is fully mixed in. It should thicken and take shape shortly after this (mine usually does within about 30 seconds of add in all the heavy cream). Take care not to over-mix this mascarpone cream!! If you do it can become soupy and sadly you won't be able to fix it.
• As soon as you see the frosting start to take shape, turn off your mixer and do a quick whisk test. Dunk your whisk attachment into the cream, then put it up and flip it upside down. The mascarpone cream should keep its shape and form a nice peak. If it doesn't, continue to mix on a medium high speed in 15-30 second intervals until it does.
• This mascarpone cream can be used to frost cupcakes, decorate layer cakes, or even top cookies, ice cream, and pies! It pipes well and can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days in an airtight container.

CHOCOLATE MASCARPONE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• In a bowl or a stand-mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter for a good 5 minutes until very light and fluffy.
• Add vanilla and salt, beat to combine.
• Add mascarpone and beat for another 2-3 minutes, until well incorporated. It will look grainy and strange - don't fret.
• Sift in the powdered sugar and cocoa straight in or into another bowl then add and beat, scraping down and ensuring all the butter at the bottom is incorporated. Beat for about 3 minutes. The buttercream will be dark at first but after beating will turn a shade or two lighter.
• Add milk and cooled chocolate, beat or stir just to combine.
• If not using immediately, place in an airtight container in the fridge. When ready to use, allow to sit at room temperature for about an hour.

MASCARPONE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Place powdered sugar and butter in an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Start mixing on the lowest speed. Increase speed to medium and beat until fluffy, scraping down the sides occasionally, about 3 minutes.
• Add mascarpone cheese and vanilla paste; mix on medium-low until creamy. Do not overmix frosting at this point, or the butter and mascarpone could separate.

WHITE CHOCOLATE-MASCARPONE BUTTER

Steps:

• Put the white chocolate chips and vegetable oil in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until melted; let cool. Add the butter and mascarpone to the white chocolate mixture and beat with a mixer until combined. Chill before serving.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH CHOCOLATE MASCARPONE FILLING AND ZINFANDEL BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• For the Swiss meringue buttercream: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, thoroughly whisk together the sugar and egg whites. Set the bowl over a pan of boiling water. Whisking constantly, heat to 145 to 150 degrees F. Return the mixing bowl to the stand and whisk until stiff and the bottom of the bowl comes to room temperature, about 8 minutes.
• Change to the paddle attachment and turn the mixer to low speed. Add the butter, a few cubes at a time, until incorporated. Mix at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and mix until combined. Use 4 cups for the flavored buttercreams in this recipe, and reserve the remaining 4 cups for another use.
• For the chocolate mascarpone buttercream: Fold the melted and cooled chocolate and the mascarpone cheese into 2 cups of the Swiss meringue buttercream.
• For the Zinfandel buttercream: Blend the Zinfandel wine into 2 cups of the Swiss meringue buttercream. Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large straight pastry tip.
• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line standard cupcake pans with 27 cupcake liners.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the sugar, buttermilk, and oil. Mix well. Add the eggs and vanilla, mixing on low speed until completely mixed together. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and sea salt into a separate bowl and whisk together. In a liquid measuring cup, mix the water with the instant coffee, dissolving the coffee powder completely. Add 1/2 the dry ingredients to the buttermilk mixture just until incorporated. Mix in the water and coffee mixture. Add the rest of the dry ingredients, mixing until combined, and then beat for 2 minutes.
• Fill the cupcake liners 3/4 full and bake until golden brown, 17 to 20 minutes. Cool the cupcakes completely.
• For the chocolate frosting: Heat the cream until hot but do not boil. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate. Stir until completely melted and smooth. Set aside to cool. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and salt until smooth. Add 1/2 the powdered sugar, mixing until smooth. Add the chocolate and the remaining powdered sugar and mix until creamy. Adjust to desired spreading consistency with additional cream or powdered sugar, if needed. Place in a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.
• To assemble: Remove a piece from the center of each cupcake and fill the cupcake with about 1 tablespoon chocolate mascarpone Swiss buttercream. Pipe a generous amount of chocolate frosting onto the top of the cupcake. Pipe a dollop of Zinfandel Swiss meringue buttercream on top of the chocolate frosting. Top with half a strawberry and drizzle with melted chocolate.

MARSCAPONE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Place egg whites and sugar in a heat proof bowl and place over a pot of simmering water.
• Heat whites while whisking continuously until they are hot and sugar has completely dissolved (or 60*C).
• Remove whites from the heat and - using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment - whip on medium high speed until whites are completely cooled and have formed medium stiff peaks.
• Add butter in chunks, creaming well between each addition.
• When butter is fully used, and the curdled look changes to a smooth satin look, add the marscapone and vanilla, whip until well combined.