Neapolitan Cupcakes With Strawberry Buttercream Food

NEAPOLITAN CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In large heat proof mixing bowl, whisk together cocoa powder and baking soda. Carefully pour in boiling water and whisk until bubbling subsides and mixture is well blended, allow to cool for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a separate large mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer set on low speed, blend together melted butter, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, vanilla and salt until well combined, about 30 seconds. Stir in egg and egg yolk. Blend in cocoa mixture then blend in heavy cream. Slowly mix in flour and blend until combined, while scraping down sides and bottom of bowl.
• Spoon an even 1/8 cup (2 Tbsp) into bottom of 22 paper lined muffin cups and spread into an even layer, set aside.
• Sift cake flour into a medium mixing bowl. Add baking powder and salt and whisk mixture 20 seconds, set aside. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip together butter and sugar with vanilla bean seeds on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. In separate mixing bowl whisk together milk, egg whites and vanilla extract until well blended.
• Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to butter/sugar mixture, then mix until combined, then add 1/2 of the milk/egg mixture and mix on low speed until combined then increase to medium speed and mix 1 minute (if you are using a paddle attachment that doesn't constantly scrape bowl, then mix 1 1/2 minutes and occasionally scrape down sides and bottom of bowl throughout mixing.
• Batter should become fluffy). Add another 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix until combined, then add remaining 1/2 of the milk/egg mixture and mix on low until combined then increase to medium and mix 1 minute (1 1/2 minutes with regular paddle attachment, it should have the consistency similar to fluffy mousse). Add last 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix until well combined.
• Gently dollop a heaping 1/8 cup over chocolate layer in cupcake wells and carefully spread batter evenly to edges.
• Bake in preheated oven until toothpick inserted into center of cupcake comes out clean, about 16 - 19 minutes. Cool in baking sheet several minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely (once cool immediately store in an airtight container). Pipe or spread strawberry frosting over cupcake once cooled.
• Once the cupcakes have cooled completely, make the strawberry buttercream frosting (you'll need to make a double batch of the recipe I've linked).

NEAPOLITAN CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12 standard muffin cups with paper liners. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Beat butter with sugar on medium speed in a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until combined after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in two batches, alternating with buttermilk and beginning and ending with flour.
• Whisk together cocoa powder and 1/4 cup hot water in a small bowl until smooth. Transfer 1 heaping cup (10 ounces) batter to a medium bowl. Add cocoa mixture and stir until just combined; fold in chopped chocolate.
• Divide chocolate batter evenly among muffin cups. Top with remaining vanilla batter. Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until golden brown and a tester inserted in centers comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack before removing. Cupcakes can be stored up to 1 day in an airtight container at room temperature. Just before serving, spread buttercream over cupcakes.

CUPCAKES WITH STRAWBERRY JAM AND ROSEWATER BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners and coat with cooking spray. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl; set aside. Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-low speed until creamy. Add the granulated sugar and vegetable oil and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes, then add the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the milk, scraping down the bowl as needed.
• In another large bowl, beat the egg whites with a mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form, 3 to 5 minutes. Gently fold into the batter with a rubber spatula; do not overmix. Divide the batter between the muffin cups. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to racks and let cool 15 minutes in the pans, then remove the cupcakes to the racks to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until creamy. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar, 1 cup at a time, until just incorporated; beat in the salt. Add the vanilla and rosewater, increase the speed to medium high and beat until creamy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the milk and beat until fluffy, about 1 more minute.
• Put the strawberry jam in a piping bag fitted with a large round tip. Insert the tip into the center of each cupcake and pipe in some of the jam. Spread or pipe the frosting on the cupcakes.

NEAPOLITAN CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line muffin pans with paper liners.
• For the chocolate cupcakes: In a medium bowl, cream together both sugars and the oil. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in the milk until the batter is smooth. Set aside.
• For the strawberry cupcakes: In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, cream cheese, granulated sugar and gelatin. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and then stir in the vanilla. Combine the cake flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in the milk and strawberries until the batter is smooth. Set aside.
• For the vanilla cupcakes: In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, cream cheese and granulated sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in the milk until the batter is smooth. Set aside
• Use a miniature cupcake scooper and scoop all three batters into the cupcake liner. First scoop the chocolate batter, second the strawberry batter and third the vanilla batter. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. The cupcakes are done when they spring back to the touch. Let cool.
• For the chocolate frosting: In a small bowl, melt the chocolate in the microwave starting at 30 seconds and stir. Melt in increments of 30 seconds as needed so that you do not burn or overheat the chocolate.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, melted chocolate and vanilla until mixed well. Then add the confectioners' sugar.
• For the strawberry frosting: In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter. Add the confectioners' sugar and strawberry extract.
• For the vanilla frosting: In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter. Add the confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract.
• To assemble: After all the cupcakes have cooled, frost each cupcake in the same order you placed the batter (chocolate, strawberry, vanilla).

STRAWBERRY CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two standard 12-cup muffin pans with paper liners; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping down sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk and beginning and ending with the flour; beat until just combined. Transfer mixture to a large bowl; set aside.
• In the clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on low speed until foamy. With mixer running, gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar; beat on high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 4 minutes. Do not overbeat. Gently fold 1/3 of the egg-white mixture into the butter-flour mixture until combined. Gently fold in remaining egg-white mixture.
• Divide batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling each with a heaping 1/4 cup batter. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until the cupcakes are golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack. Invert cupcakes onto rack; then reinvert and let cool completely, top sides up. Frost cupcakes with strawberry meringue buttercream, swirling to cover. Cupcakes may be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Garnish with strawberries just before serving.

NEAPOLITAN CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 170C/150C fan/gas 3. Line a cupcake tin with cases. Cream the sugar with the butter using an electric whisk, until combined. Crack in the egg and add the vanilla extract, then whisk to combine. Add half the flour, the baking powder and a pinch of salt, whisk to combine, then add half the milk and whisk briefly again. Repeat to use the remaining flour and milk. Don't worry if the mixture seems loose.
• Spoon about half the mixture into a separate bowl, add the cocoa and chocolate chips and stir well to combine.
• Using a teaspoon, divide the chocolate mixture between the 12 cupcake cases. Use a wooden skewer to spread the mixture evenly to the edges. Rinse and dry the teaspoon then repeat with the vanilla layer, taking care not to disturb the chocolate below and spreading to the edges again.
• Bake for 25 mins. Leave to cool slightly in the tin before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• To make the frosting, sift the icing sugar, then combine with the butter using an electric whisk. It will look crumbly initially - persevere and it will come together. If you're icing is too stiff, add 1 tbsp milk to the mixture. Carefully add 1-2 drops of the food colouring and combine to make a pale pink frosting to ice the cakes. When you cut them in half, the coloured layers will be revealed.