Coconut Pecan Cupcakes With Chocolate Ganache Food

CHOCOLATE GANACHE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Line muffin pans with 12 paper liners. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time. Mix in the chocolate syrup and vanilla. Add the flour and mix until just combined. Don't overbeat, or the cupcakes will be tough.
• Scoop the batter into the muffin cups and bake for 30 minutes, or until just set in the middle. Don't overbake! Let the cupcakes cool thoroughly in the pan.
• For the ganache, cook the heavy cream, chocolate chips, and instant coffee in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until smooth and warm, stirring occasionally.
• Dip the top of each cupcake in the ganache. Decorate with candied violets, if desired. Do not refrigerate.

MINI CHOCOLATE GANACHE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 24-cup mini-muffin pan with paper liners. Combine the chocolate, cocoa powder and brown sugar in a large bowl; add the hot coffee and whisk until smooth. Let cool to room temperature.
• Whisk the flour, granulated sugar, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl. Whisk the egg, egg yolk, vegetable oil, buttermilk and vanilla into the melted chocolate mixture. Add the flour mixture and whisk until smooth. Spoon a scant tablespoon of batter into each mini-muffin cup. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Let cool a few minutes in the pan, then remove to a rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: Combine the heavy cream, corn syrup, butter and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat; add the chocolate and whisk until smooth, then let cool to room temperature. Fill a large bowl halfway with ice water. Transfer the chocolate mixture to a medium bowl; then carefully place it in the ice water and let sit, stirring every few minutes, until the frosting is thick enough to spread, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer the frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip and pipe onto the cupcakes.

COCONUT CUPCAKES WITH CHOCOLATE GANACHE FILLING, TOPPED WITH CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING AND TOASTED COCONUT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a regular-size cupcake pan with 18 cupcake liners.
• Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with a paddle attachment, add the sifted dry ingredients and mix on low speed for 30 seconds. Slowly add oil to the mixture until fine crumbs are formed. Add the eggs, milk, and coconut extract and mix on low speed for 1 minute. Stop and scrape the bowl and paddle, and then mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.
• Fill the cupcake liners three-quarters full with batter and bake until baked through, about 20 minutes. Do not open the oven during this time. Cool the cupcakes completely after baking.
• To assemble, core each cupcake with an apple corer to create a pocket for the filling. Put the Chocolate Ganache Filling into a pastry bag and cut 1/2-inch off the tip. Fill each cupcake with the filling. Put the Caramel Buttercream Frosting into a pastry bag and cut 1/2-inch off the tip. Pipe the frosting on top of the cupcakes in a circular motion until completely covered. Once frosted, dip the cupcakes in a bowl of the toasted coconut and serve.
• Melt the ingredients in a saucepan over low heat. Stir the mixture constantly until melted and smooth. Be careful not to burn. Remove from the heat to cool completely.
• Stir 1 cup butter, heavy cream, brown sugar, white sugar, and vanilla together in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave at 1 to 2 minute intervals, stirring between intervals. The caramel will be thick and bubbly when done. The caramel must sit and cool completely in order to incorporate into the buttercream.
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the remaining 1 pound butter until creamed. Add the powdered sugar and 1/4 cup cooled caramel and mix until the ingredients are evenly incorporated and the frosting is smooth and creamy.

MILK CHOCOLATE GANACHE FOR COCONUT PECAN CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare an ice bath; set aside. Place chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl; set aside. Bring cream to a boil in a small saucepan; pour over chocolate, swirling to cover completely. Let stand until chocolate has melted, about 5 minutes. Add corn syrup; whisk until smooth.
• Pour 1 cup ganache into a bowl set in ice bath; stir until thick and spreadable. Keep remaining ganache at room temperature, stirring every 15 minutes, until thick enough to coat back of spoon, 12 to 15 minutes. Use immediately.

COCONUT PECAN CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Let eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in extracts. Combine the flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. , In a small bowl, beat egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold into batter. Stir in coconut and pecans. , Fill paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely. , In a large bowl, combine frosting ingredients until smooth; frost cupcakes. Store in the refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE-PECAN CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line 12 muffin cups with foil liners. Place egg whites, baking powder and vanilla in a large bowl; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating just until stiff but not dry. Gradually fold in grated chocolate, crackers and pecans., Fill prepared cups. Bake on lowest oven rack until puffed and tops appear dry (some tops may fall), 13-15 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely., For filling, in a large bowl, beat butter, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Gently fold in marshmallow creme. If centers of cupcakes have not already collapsed, gently press center with a small spoon to open cavity inside. Fill cupcakes; top with additional chocolate. Refrigerate leftovers.

COCONUT-PECAN CUPCAKES WITH CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. In a food processor, finely grind shredded coconut; transfer to a bowl. Process pecans with 2 tablespoons sugar until finely ground. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; stir in ground coconut and pecans.
• With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter, creamed coconut, and remaining sugar until pale and fluffy. Add extract and then eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of coconut milk, and beating until just combined after each.
• Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until golden and a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes (cupcakes will not be domed). Turn out cupcakes onto wire racks and let cool completely. Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.
• To finish, dip tops of cupcakes in chocolate glaze, then turn over quickly and garnish with toasted coconut. Cupcakes are best eaten the day they are glazed; keep at room temperature until ready to serve.