Gilbert Ganache Fried Cupcakes Chocolate Seltzer Cupcakes With Ganache Banana Frosting And Caramelized Banana Food

GANACHE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan combine the corn syrup and heavy cream. Bring to a simmer and add the chocolate. Stir until smooth. Remove from the heat and add the vanilla extract.

AVOCADO, CARAMELIZED BANANA CUPCAKE

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line 2 cupcake baking pans with paper liners.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl; set aside. Beat the sugar, butter and pureed avocado until completely combined in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat in the vanilla, then beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• Beat in the buttermilk with the mixer on low speed until just combined. Add the flour mixture. Once all the flour is incorporated, increase the mixing speed to medium and beat for 20 seconds longer. Be careful not to over-mix.
• Divide the batter among the pans and bake until golden on top and a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool in the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes before inverting, removing papers and cooling completely.
• For the buttercream frosting: Beat the powdered sugar and egg whites for about 5 minutes on medium-high speed using an electric mixer. Puree the avocado and lime juice in a food processor. Add the butter to the whites mixture and beat until very creamy, about 10 minutes, then add the avocado and lime juice and mix well.
• For the streusel: Cream together the butter, sugar and almond paste using an electric mixer. Add the vanilla and cinnamon and mix well. Add the flour and toasted oats in batches until large crumbs start forming.
• For the caramelized bananas: Make a dry caramel by pouring the sugar in an even layer into a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Heat over medium heat until the caramel starts to melt, gently pushing the sugar towards the center. Continue cooking, stirring only very occasionally, until the caramel turns a dark copper, taking care that the caramel doesn't burn. Transfer to a bowl, stir in the bananas until coated and caramelized, and then stir in the butter, cream and cinnamon.
• For assembly: Remove the centers of the cupcakes using a melon baller and fill with the caramelized bananas. Pipe the avocado-lime frosting on top, sprinkle with the oats streusel and garnish with lime zest on top.

GANACHE

Steps:

• Place the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl and set aside.
• In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a boil. Pour over the chocolate, let sit for 2 or 3 minutes, then whisk until smooth and shiny. Cool slightly. Whisk in the liqueur, if using.
• One at a time, dip fruit, dried fruit, candied citrus peel, and crystallized ginger halfway into the warm ganache to cover by half. Place on a wire rack with parchment, wax paper, or foil underneath. Let stand until chocolate has dried.
• To make truffles, let ganache cool completely in the refrigerator until hard. Scoop small balls of the hardened ganache and shape by hand. Roll truffles in the cocoa powder to coat. ;

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.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Place the chocolate into a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil, watching very carefully because if it boils for a few seconds, it will boil out of the pot. When the cream has come to a boil, pour over the chopped chocolate, and whisk until smooth. Stir in the rum if desired.
• Allow the ganache to cool slightly before pouring over a cake. Start at the center of the cake and work outward. For a fluffy frosting or chocolate filling, allow it to cool until thick, then whip with a whisk until light and fluffy.

GANACHE

Steps:

• Coarsely chop chocolate. A serrated knife is best for the job; its sawlike teeth grab the chocolate, breaking it up.
• Bring cream just to a boil over medium-high heat. Pour over chocolate, and add salt. Let stand for 10 minutes (don't stir -- doing so will cool the ganache too quickly, making it grainy).
• Stir with a whisk until smooth and shiny to break up any pieces and emulsify cream and chocolate.
• Chocolate will often settle on the bottom or sides of the bowl. Scrape the dish with a rubber spatula to incorporate all of it.
• To make a whipped filling or frosting: Let ganache cool to room temperature, stirring often, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Beat it with a mixer on medium-high speed until paler and fluffy, 2 to 4 minutes. (This will yield about 2 cups.) Transfer to a disposable pastry bag with a large opening and use it as a filling for mini whoopie pies or spread it over cupcakes.

ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH GANACHE FILLING(ATK)

Steps:

• FOR GANACHE FILLING: Place chocolate, cream, and confectioners' sugar in medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat in microwave on high power until mixture is warm to touch, 20 to 30 seconds. Whisk until smooth; transfer bowl to refrigerator and let stand until just chilled, no longer than 30 minutes.
• FOR CUPCAKES: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard-size muffin pan (cups have ½-cup capacity) with baking-cup liners. Place chocolate and cocoa in medium bowl. Pour hot coffee over mixture and whisk until smooth. Set in refrigerator to cool completely, about 20 minutes. Whisk flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.
• Whisk oil, eggs, vinegar, and vanilla into cooled chocolate-cocoa mixture until smooth. Add flour mixture and whisk until smooth.
• Divide batter evenly among muffin pan cups. Place one slightly rounded teaspoon ganache filling on top of each cupcake. Bake until cupcakes are set and just firm to touch, 17 to 19 minutes. Cool cupcakes in muffin pan on wire rack until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Carefully lift each cupcake from muffin pan and set on wire rack. Cool to room temperature before frosting, about 1 hour.
• TO FROST: Mound 2 to 3 tablespoons frosting on center of each cupcake. Using small icing spatula or butter knife, spread frosting to edge of cupcake, leaving slight mound in center.