Passion Fruit Cupcakes With Avocado Buttercream Frosting Food

CUPCAKES WITH AVOCADO BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Make the cupcakes: Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line one 12-cup standard muffin tin or one 24-cup mini muffin tin with cupcake liners, and spray with cooking spray.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the eggs and sugar in a large bowl until light and foamy, about 1 minute; while still whisking, gradually add the butter, then the vanilla and orange zest. Add half the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and stir with a spoon to combine. Add the milk, then the remaining dry ingredients, and stir to combine, but don't overmix.
• Divide the batter evenly among the cups in the prepared tin. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes (10 to 12 minutes for minis), rotating the tin halfway through. Let the cupcakes cool in the tin on a cooling rack for 10 minutes, then remove them from the tin and let them cool completely on the rack.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: Process the avocado flesh and the butter in a food processor until completely smooth. With the processor still running, slowly pour in the cream. Add the confectioners' sugar, and pulse until light green and completely combined, about 1 minute. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Spread the frosting on the cooled cupcakes.

AVOCADO BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Peel and pit the avocado. Place the avocado into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment along with the lemon juice and beat until lightened in color, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time and beat until smooth. Add the lemon extract and mix to combine. If not using right away, store in the refrigerator.

GINGERBREAD CUPCAKES WITH ZINFANDEL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a regular-size cupcake pan with 18 cupcake liners.
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with a paddle attachment, mix the dry ingredients on slow speed until fully incorporated. Slowly add the oil and eggs to the bowl. Add the buttermilk, molasses, applesauce, and pureed ginger, and then mix on medium 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.
• Put the Zinfandel Buttercream Frosting into a pastry bag and cut 1/2-inch off the tip. Frost each cupcake in a circular motion until the top of the cupcake is completely covered and serve.
• Pour the zinfandel into a saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until the liquid comes to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and stir constantly until reduced by half. Take off the stove and cool in the refrigerator until cold.
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the butter until creamed. Add the powdered sugar and zinfandel reduction and mix until the ingredients are evenly incorporated and the frosting is smooth and creamy.