Chocolate Vodka Raspberry Rock Star Cupcake Food

CHOCOLATE VODKA RASPBERRY ROCK STAR CUPCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Add remaining ingredients (with hot water and vodka set aside). Beat with electric mixer for 1 minute. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides and bottom of mixing bowl with rubber spatula making sure to incorporate all ingredients. Add warm water and vodka slowly while mixing for one more minute or until smooth.
• Line 12 cup cupcake or muffin pan 3/4-full with batter. Bake until the cupcakes are puffed and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool the cupcakes completely.
• Melt butter and stir in cocoa in a mixing bowl. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating on medium speed to spreading consistency. Add more milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla extract.
• Mix raspberry preserves and vodka to an even consistency. (Add more vodka if desired)
• To assemble: Core the cupcakes and add raspberry filling to top. Generously frost each cupcake with pastry bag and cut 1/2-inch off the tip. Add fresh raspberries to top if desired.

RICH CHOCOLATE CARAMEL CUPCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line 30 regular-size cupcake or muffin cups with paper cupcake liners or line 6 dozen (72) mini cupcake or mini muffin cups with mini cupcake liners.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Sift the cocoa powder in a separate bowl. Whisk the hot water into the cocoa until smooth. In bowl of electric mixer, cream the sugar and butter well. Add the eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla and mix until smooth. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and add the cocoa mixture. Beat just until smooth. Fill the cupcake liners 3/4-full and bake the regular-size cupcakes for 20 minutes, or until cooked through or bake the mini cupcakes for 19 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove the cupcakes from the pan and let cool completely. Fill with Caramel Cream Center and top with Ganache Frosting and the prepared blue rock sugar.
• Warm the egg whites and sugar over a double boiler, stirring the egg mixture until the sugar dissolves and the mixture feels warm to the touch. Remove from the heat and whip until medium-stiff peaks form. With the mixer running, gradually add the softened butter and vanilla until thick and smooth. Fold in the Agave Caramel Sauce until fully incorporated. Place the Caramel Cream Center in a pastry bag fitted with pastry tip and fill the cooled cupcakes.
• In a small saucepan, heat the water over high heat until hot but not boiling. Add the sugar and the agave and stir gently to dissolve. Bring the mixture to a boil, and heat to 330 degrees F, or to a warm brown color. Add the cream slowly, whisking constantly, the caramel will bubble and rise. Add the butter and continue whisking over the heat until the caramel is smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Chill the mixture to thicken.
• In a saucepan, heat the cream to scald. Add the chocolate chips. Stir the mixture until smooth. Chill on the ice bath until a spreadable consistency, stirring frequently. Frost the filled cupcakes with the ganache and garnish with the prepared rock sugar.

CHOCOLATE CHIP CANNOLI CUPCAKE

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line regular sized cupcake pans with 24 liners.
• Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Set aside. In a mixing bowl fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the eggs and sugar until light in color and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the oil and vanilla. Mix until incorporated. Add the sour cream. Mix until just incorporated. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, and mix until just blended.
• Fill the cupcake liners three-quarters full with batter and bake until baked through and golden brown, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool completely.
• For the cannoli cream: In a mixing bowl fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the ricotta, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla on medium speed for about 5 minutes. Stir in the mini morsels.
• For the whipped cream: Beat the cream and sugar together in a mixing bowl fitted with a whisk attachment until the cream is whipped.
• To assemble: Using a small knife, cut on an angle directly into top of the vanilla cupcake in a circular pattern, staying within the perimeter of the top, removing the inside of the cupcake in one piece. Using a spoon or small scoop, fill the inside of the cupcake with Chocolate Chip Cannoli Cream. Place the top of the cupcake back on, putting a little pressure so that the top is pressed into the cream, holding it in place. Top with a dollop of Fresh Whipped Cream and garnish with mini morsels.