Start the holiday season off right with these delicious winter cupcakes– my current solution to all things stressful about the season. Bake them for your grandma, as a present for a friend, or as a way to avoid talking to your crazy uncle on the night of your holiday dinner. We’ve all been there. Whatever the case, here’s what you need to get started:
White Chocolate Cupcakes
2 ½ cups sifted cake flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
4 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped
½ cup boiling water
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs, separated
1 tsp peppermint extract
1 cup buttermilk
White Chocolate Frosting
6 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped
12 ounces (1 ½ cups) cream cheese, softened
3 tbsp butter, softened
¾ tsp peppermint extract
3 cups confectioners sugar
White Chocolate Cupcakes Directions: Heat the oven to 350 degrees and place your cupcake liners into cupcake pan.Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and stir with a fork to mix them well.Bring three inches of water to an active simmer in the bottom of a double boiler or a saucepan that will accommodate a medium heat-proof bowl so that it sits snugly over the water. Melt the white chocolate in the top of the double boiler or in the bowl over the simmering water. Stir often, and then pour in the ½ cup of boiling water and stir to mix well. Remove from the heat.
In a medium bowl, combine the butter and the sugar and beat with a mixed at medium speed to mix them together well. Add the egg yolks, one by one, beating each time to keep the mixture smooth. Add the white chocolate and the peppermint, and stir well to mix.Add about a third of the flour mixture, and then about half of the buttermilk, beating with a mixer at low speed just long enough after each addition to make the flour or buttermilk disappear. Mix in another third of the flour, remaining buttermilk and then the last of the flour.
In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites at medium speed until they are foamy and opaque. Continue beating at high speed until they swell into thick, pillowy mounds and hold peaks that are stiff.
Add one third of the egg white mixture to the bowl of batter, and fold it in gently using a spatula. Add the remaining egg whites and continue to fold with a light touch, until the egg whites are blended in well, with only a few streaks showing.
Transfer the batter to the cupcake liners and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes until the cakes are golden brown, spring back when touched gently in the center or come out clean with a toothpick.
Cool the cakes on wire racks or folded kitchen towels for about 30 minutes. Turn them out onto the racks and peel off the paper and turn them back the right way up to cool completely.
White Chocolate Frosting Directions: In the top of a double boiler or a heatproof bowl, melt the white chocolate over hot, not simmering, water, stirring often. Remove from the heat once melted and let cool to lukewarm. Transfer the melted white chocolate to a large bowl, and add the cream cheese, butter and peppermint. Beat together at medium speed until you have a smooth sauce. Add the confectioners sugar and beat until smooth.
