Apr 6, 2011

Raspberry Cupcakes with Whipped White Chocolate Ganache


         I'm just going to come out with it...I don't love cupcakes. There. I said it. I feel like this cupcake phenomenon is overrated. I think that pies, cookies, danishes, donuts, tarts and other delicious sugar-coma inducing goodies should have their fair share in the limelight. I need to face facts though; the cupcake is not going anywhere. It's happy at the top and has no plans of relinquishing the crown anytime soon. So I need to take Matt Lewis' advice and "suck it up and appreciate the little frosting-topped monstrosities for the ubiquitous, delicious little [things] they are." 
        I think Matt Lewis is a baking genius, so I took his advice. I jumped in with both feet and started perfecting my cupcake repertoire. First, I made Orange Chiffon Cupcakes. Next, I tried Cinnamon Sugar Cupcakes. This new recipe is for Raspberry cupcakes. Real Raspberry Cupcakes, yum. 
       These cupcakes taste really fruity. They don't just look like red cupcakes with a hint of fruit, they taste like a raspberry. I originally found a recipe for strawberry cupcakes, then I found a great recipe for a real raspberry cake. I'm sure they would have been delicious. However, I wanted to make raspberry cupcakes and I also had half a cake mix that I wanted to use (the other half I used to make the Cinnamon Sugar cupcakes.) Well, I did what I do best....adapt. I made a couple quick changes and came up with a very moist and fruity cupcake that uses a cake-mix base.  I brought these mini cupcakes along with the Cinnamon Sugar cupcakes to the cupcake party, where they were very well received.
      The cake portion of a cupcake is only half of  it. The frosting is where it's at. It doesn't matter how good the cake is, the frosting can make or break the cupcake.  Luckily, I made two frostings for these little beauties. I made a whipped white chocolate ganache and a lemon white chocolate ganache. Both of which pair extremely well with raspberries. The lemon frosting reminded me of a raspberry lemonade; fruity, tart and refreshing. The white chocolate frosting was rich, decadent and a wonderful accompaniment to the moist and fruity cupcake. I hope you will try these cupcake and let me know what you think. Slowly, even I am coming around to the 'frosting-topped monstrosities'. 


Raspberry Cupcakes
1 package white or yellow cake mix
1 (3 oz) package of raspberry gelatin
1 cup of thawed frozen raspberries
1/4 cup juice from thawed frozen raspberries
3/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup buttermilk
4 eggs


In a large bowl, stir together cake mix and gelatin. Make a well in the center and pour in mashed raspberries, juice, oil buttermilk and eggs. Beat on low speed until blended. Scrape bowl and beat 2 minutes on medium speed. Pour batter into prepared cupcake pans.


Bake at 350º for 15-18 minutes or until cupcakes are done. A toothpick inserted into the cupcake should come out clean.


Whipped White Chocolate Ganache
adapted slightly from Tish Boyle, Cake Book
3 oz. high quality white chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream


Place chocolate in a bowl and set aside. In a double boiler, or heat proof pan set over simmer water, heat cream until hot. Remove cream from heat and pour hot cream over white chocolate.  Allow mixture to sit for 1 minute. Then whisk together cream and chocolate until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight.


After chilled, beat cold chocolate mixture in a mixer at medium high speed with your whisk attachment. Until the whisk begins to leave a trail in the chocolate. The consistency should be like gently whipped cream.


variation: Lemon Whipped White Chocolate Ganache
Make the whipped ganache following directions above. Once chilled remove from refrigerator and add the zest of one lemon and at least 1 tablespoon of juice or to taste. Beat in a mixer on medium-high speed with a whisk attachment. Beat mixture until the whisk leaves a slight trail and the mixture begins to look like softly whipped cream.

5 comments:

Deidre said...

Thanks for sharing all of your cupcake recipes I will admit I feel the same way...there are lots of other sweets I like a lot more than cupcakes...but at least you've got some high quality ones all ready to be made again.

Brownbellies said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Brownbellies said...

Does the Sweet Tooth Fairy know of your dislike of cupcakes?

Heather said...

I've never actually had Sweet Tooth Fairy cupcakes. Sorry Megan. :) Also, I should clarify that I dislike most cupcakes not all cupcakes. Maybe I'll edit this post.

Brownbellies said...

I was just teasing you. I know you didn't mean all cupcakes everywhere.