Love in A cupcake

Love in a cupcake needs no explanation.  These cupcakes make you feel like you have eaten the whole cake.  I like cupcakes because they save time in the kitchen and there is no need to cut a cake.  This recipe was hiding in my red binder cookbook and it looks like I changed the ingredients over the years. With Love in a cupcake you are ready for Valentine’s Day.

Remembering

When I baked with nonna, we made buchinotti.  She made sponge cake and the extra batter she would use for her cupcakes and fill them with jam. Most of our desserts, cakes and cookies were very simple.  She often used jam and nuts as a sweetener.   I found a recipe close to hers at : http://blog.giallozafferano.it/labottegaincucina/bocconotti-calabresi-con-marmellata-ricetta-tipica/

Every time I write for this blog, I get flashbacks of nonna Emilia, and even though this isn’t her recipe, she is always with me.  My cupcakes have banana and pineapple to keep them moist and the topping consists of cream cheese, sugar and whipping cream.  They are light, fluffy and delicious.

The Assembly

The wet and the dry ingredients in separate bowls

The dry ingredients aren’t so pretty, but they do their job.

 The batter is ready for the oven.

The sugar bubbles away and hugs the walnuts.

Print

Love in a Cupcake

These cupcakes are light, fluffy and delicious.

Course Dessert

Cuisine Home Cooking in Canada

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Servings 12

Author Renata Solski

Ingredients

The cupcake

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup each of granulated sugar and brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 mashed banana
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 can crushed pineapple 7 oz
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

The icing

• 6 Wedges The laughing cow light. You can also 4 oz cream cheese.
• 4 tbsp powdered sugar
• 6 tbsp whipping cream

The Candied Walnuts

• 12 pieces whole walnuts
• 1 tbsp each of butter, brown sugar and corn syrup.

Instructions

The cupcakes

1. Combine flour, granulated and brown sugar, cinnamon and baking soda in a mixing bowl.

   In another bowl, add banana, pineapple, eggs, oil and vanilla extract.

   Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir gently until combined.

   Add in the finely chopped walnut pieces.

   Pour batter into muffin tins with cupcake liners.

   Bake for 25 minutes at 350 F. 

   
   

The Icing

1. Whip together the cream cheese, powdered sugar and whipping cream and refrigerate. 

   
   

The Candied Walnuts

1. Put the butter, brown sugar and corn syrup in a pan.

   Bring to a boil.

   Add the walnuts and cook for one minute.

   Pour onto parchment paper and cool. 

The Assembly

1. When the cupcakes are cooled ice and decorate with a candied walnut.

   Some coloured sugars would be nice.  

All frosted and ready for Valentine’s Day.

That first bite.