I love all things to do with cooking, and I have a feeling I’m a little late to this parchment paper game, but last month when we were visiting Ryan and family, we went every morning for breakfast at The Dixie Diner, a great little restaurant not far from their house and every morning I had a Jumbo Blueberry Muffin (don’t judge me) in a parchment paper liner like this one above.  I was intrigued, the muffin didn’t adhere to the paper like it does with a regular muffin liner and it was so darn cute.  It’s all about the presentation for this old(er) girl.

So I did a little research and it’s a pretty simple thing to do.  For jumbo muffins or cupcakes you need 6” parchment paper squares and for regular sized muffins or cupcakes you need 5” squares. Now you could cut your own, but seriously, who wants to do that when you can buy them precut already.

If you want the tulip effect like the one above, it does take a little work, but they look so good they are totally worth it.

It’s pretty simple really, just pleat the muffin around an overturned glass the same size as the muffin tin and then plop them in the tins.  I suppose you could just pleat them inside the tin itself, but this is much easier.

You can buy these liners, bleached or unbleached.  I’ll do easy links for you below.  AND since yours truly, who buys everything kitchen related just realized that I don’t have jumbo muffin tins, I’m going to remedy that today by ordering them.  Oh, I am a sucker for Amazon Prime, but aren’t we all.

So, here are the links, happy baking, and now your muffins will look just like the ones in the bake shops. 😋
 

 

The ones I ate were in these unbleached liners, which looked great.  Here’s the link for the 5” ones

And the 6” ones, are actually marketed to use as squares between hamburger patties, which brings up a whole other subject that I will address in another post.

Here’s the link for the 6” ones

And now for those jumbo muffin pans, Wilton sells them on Amazon for $11.99 Prime.  Here’s the click

 

Peanut Butter Cupcakes
Makes 36

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1¼ cups whole milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1½ cups creamy peanut butter
4 oz. butter (at room temperature)
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
6 large eggs
Jelly, for filling

1. Preheat oven to 325°. Line the cupcake pan with paper liners.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.

3. In a liquid measuring cup combine milk and vanilla; set aside.

4. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, place peanut butter, butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes.

5. Add eggs to the creamed mixture, one at a time, beating well after each addition and making sure to scrape sides and bottom of bowl.

6. Add flour mixture and milk with vanilla in three parts beginning and ending with the flour mixture, blending just until combined after each addition.

7. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the mixer bowl.

8. Bake 22-25 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean and cupcakes start to pull away from the sides of the pan.

9. Remove from the oven and cool in the pan for 20 minutes. Remove from the pans and cool completely.

10. Using the blunt end of a wooden spoon, punch a hole into the center of each cupcake. Place jelly in a piping bag or small plastic bag with the end snipped off. Squeeze about 1 tbsp. of jelly into the center of each cupcake. Ice generously with buttercream frosting (recipe below).

Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting

1½ cups creamy peanut butter
8 oz. butter (at room temperature)
½ cup whole milk
1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract
5 cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted before you measure
2 cups jam (any flavor)

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat peanut butter and butter until light and fluffy and butter is completely incorporated (no lumps). Do not overmix.

2. In a liquid measuring cup, combine milk and vanilla; set aside.

3. Add half of the confectioner’s sugar and half of the milk-vanilla mixture and beat on low speed until just incorporated.

4. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.

5. Add the remaining confectioner’s sugar and milk-vanilla mixture and beat on low speed until just incorporated.

6. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl. Icing should be smooth and creamy—do not over mix.

Adapted from a recipe from People Magazine
Photo Courtesy of People Magazine

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup gold tequila
• 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (5 to 6 limes)
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (2 oranges)
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh jalapeno pepper (1 pepper seeded)
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic (3 cloves)
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3 whole (6 split) boneless chicken breasts, skin on

Directions

When we were in Nashville for Christmas, we stopped by Gigi’s Cupcake Shop.  The family tried different flavors, Wedding Cake, Italian Crème, Kentucky Bourbon, but I decided on this Chocolate Salted Caramel one.  Ladies, I kid you not, this was hands down, the best cupcake I’ve ever put in my mouth.

I’ve searched the net looking for a similar recipe, and  put a few together to come up with my own very similar version.  I simplified it a bit by using a dark chocolate cake mix, after all, it’s not about the cake anyway, it’s all about the toppings, and Betty Crocker happens to be a great cook.  This recipe is labor intensive enough, make it easy on yourself and just use a mix for the cupcakes.

~ jan

Betty Crocker Dark Chocolate Cake mix, made as per directions on box in lined cupcake pans.

Caramel Filling for Cupcakes:

2-1.2 cups sugar
2.3 cup water
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2.5 teaspoons sea salt

Directions:

Heat sugar, water and corn syrup in heavy saucepan over medium high heat, stirring occasionally until syrup is clear.  Then clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan.

Now cook without stirring until it comes to a boil, washing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush as needed.  Boil, gently swirling pan occasionally, until mixture is carmelized and reaches 360 degrees.

Remove from heat, slowly pour in cream, stirring with a wooden spoon until smooth.  Stir in sea salt.

Take a knife, cut a cone-shaped piece (about 1/2 inch deep) from the center of each cupcake and discard the cut out piece.  Spoon 1-2 teaspoons of warm Salted Caramel Filling into each hollowed-out cupcake.  The caramel will sink into the cupcake, go back and fill with a bit more.  Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over filling.

Caramel Buttercream Frosting:

1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. water
1/4 cup heavy cream
1  1/2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup (1.5 sticks) salted butter, room temperature
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Briefly stir together granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat and continue to cook without stirring until mixture turns dark amber, this should take six or seven minutes.

Remove from heat and slowly add in cream and vanilla.  Beat with a wooden spoon until completely smooth and let cool.

Beat the butter on medium-high speed until light in color and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed and add powdered sugar. Mix until well combined. Turn off the mixer, and slowly add caramel. Beat frosting on low to combine, and then increase to medium-high and beat until airy and thoroughly mixed, about 2 minutes.

These cupcakes look best when piped through a bag.  Use a swirl (1M tip).  If you pipe the cupcakes, it takes a lot more frosting, but that’s what makes them special, so double your recipe and pile them really high with the frosting.

For the finish -

Chocolate Ganache

9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon dark rum (optional)

Directions

Place the chocolate into a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil, watching very carefully because if it boils for a few seconds, it will boil out of the pot. When the cream has come to a boil, pour over the chopped chocolate, and whisk until smooth. Stir in the rum if desired.

Allow the ganache to cool slightly before pouring over a cake. Start at the center of the cake and work outward. For a fluffy frosting or chocolate filling, allow it to cool until thick, then whip with a whisk until light and fluffy.

Frost the top of the buttercream topped cupcakes with the Ganache, as shown in photograph, and top with a smattering of sea salt. 

And there you have it, absolute, total perfection.  Not hard to make, just time consuming, and always more fun if made with a girlfriend.

Totally different, totally decadent, completely addictive cupcakes, what more could you ask for…

•  See this recipe at  Lickin The Bowl Good

Ingredients

Makes 2 dozen

• 2 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon cocoa powder (not Dutch-processed)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 20 squares)
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
• Marshmallow Frosting

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 standard muffin tins with cupcake liners; set aside.
2. Sift 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together into the bowl of an electric mixer. Using the paddle attachment, mix ingredients together on low speed.
3. In a large bowl, mix together eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Add to flour mixture and beat on medium speed for 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl and continue mixing on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add boiling water and stir to combine; set cake batter aside.
4. Place graham cracker crumbs, remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and melted butter in a large bowl; stir until well combined.
5. Place 1 tablespoon graham cracker mixture into the bottom of each prepared muffin cup. Use the bottom of a small glass to pack crumbs into the bottom of each cupcake liner. Reserve remaining graham cracker mixture for topping.
6. Place 2 teaspoons chocolate in each muffin cup. Transfer muffin tins to oven and bake until the edges of the graham cracker mixture is golden, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and fill each muffin cup three-quarters full with cake batter. Sprinkle each with remaining chocolate and graham cracker mixture. Return to oven and bake, rotating pans halfway through baking, until tops are firm and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer muffin tins to a wire rack and let cupcakes cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan and let cool completely.
7. Transfer frosting to a large pastry bag fitted with a large plain round or French tip (such as Ateco #867 or Ateco #809). Pipe frosting in a spiral motion on each cupcake. Transfer cupcakes to a baking sheet. Using a kitchen torch, lightly brown the frosting, taking care not to burn the cupcake liners. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container, up to 2 days.

Source:  Martha Stewart Living

1    box (1 lb 2.25 oz) Betty Crocker® double chocolate muffin mix
1    can (21 oz) cherry pie filling
1    egg
    Frozen (thawed) whipped topping, if desired
12    maraschino cherries, if desired
1.    Heat oven to 400°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 12 regular-size muffin cups.
2.    In medium bowl, stir muffin mix, pie filling and egg until blended (batter will be very moist). Divide batter among muffin cups.
3.    Bake 28 to 30 minutes or until tops spring back when touched. Cool 5 minutes; carefully remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Serve each cake topped with dollop of whipped topping and a cherry.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Place paper baking cup in each of 18 regular-size muffin cups. Stir 2 tablespoons Gold Medal® all-purpose flour into dry muffin mix.
Make the Most of This Recipe
Did You Know?
Black Forest is the area in Germany where chocolate cake and cherries were first combined in the classic Black Forest dessert.
Nutrition Information:
1 Serving: Calories 250 (Calories from Fat 70); Total Fat 8g (Saturated Fat 3g, Trans Fat 1g); Cholesterol 20mg; Sodium 220mg; Total Carbohydrate 43g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 32g); Protein 3g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 0%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 20%; Iron 10% Exchanges: 1/2 Starch; 2 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 1 1/2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 3
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Source:  Betty Crocker

Ingredients

• 1/3  cup  all-purpose flour
• 3/4  cup  sugar
• 4  large eggs
• 2  cups  milk
• 1  tablespoon  vanilla extract
• 1 1/2  cups  flaked coconut, divided
• 2 1/2  cups  all-purpose flour
• 3/4  cup  cold butter or margarine, cut up
• 2  tablespoons  water
• 1 1/2  cups  macadamia nuts, chopped
• 1  cup  whipping cream
• 3  tablespoons  sugar

Preparation

Stir together 1/3 cup flour and 3/4 cup sugar; whisk in eggs.

Cook milk in a heavy saucepan over medium heat until hot. Gradually whisk about one-fourth of hot milk into egg mixture; add to remaining hot milk, whisking constantly.

Cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, 5 to 6 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla and 1 cup coconut. Cover and chill 3 hours.

Bake remaining 1/2 cup coconut in a shallow pan at 350°, stirring occasionally, 5 to 6 minutes or until toasted; set aside.

Pulse 2 1/2 cups flour and butter in a food processor until crumbly. Add 2 tablespoons water, and pulse 30 seconds or until dough forms a ball. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface; knead in nuts.

Divide dough into 12 equal portions; press each portion into a(3- to 4-inch) tart pan. Prick bottoms with a fork, and place on a 15- x 10-inch jellyroll pan. Cover and freeze 30 minutes.

Bake on jellyroll pan at 375° for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden. Cool in tart pans 5 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on a wire rack.

Spoon coconut custard mixture into tart shells.

Beat whipping cream and 3 tablespoons sugar at high speed with an electric mixer until soft peaks form; dollop or pipe onto tarts. Sprinkle with toasted coconut; chill.

Southern Living, DECEMBER 1997

Ingredients

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen

    * FOR THE CUPCAKES
    * 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
    * 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
    * 1/2 teaspoon salt
    * 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
    * 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
    * 1 1/3 cups sugar
    * 2/3 cup natural, creamy peanut butter
    * 3 large eggs
    * 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    * 1/2 cup sour cream
    * FOR THE FROSTING
    * 12 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
    * 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, plus more for decorating
    * 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
    * 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter

Directions

   1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line 3 standard 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners.
   2. Make the cupcakes: Whisk flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl. Put butter and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to low. Mix in peanut butter. Mix in eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Add flour mixture; mix until combined. Mix in sour cream.
   3. Spoon scant 3 tablespoons batter into each muffin cup. Bake until pale golden and a cake tester inserted into centers comes out clean, about 13 minutes. Transfer to wire racks; let cool completely.
   4. Make the frosting: Put cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and butter into the clean bowl of a mixer fitted with the clean paddle attachment; mix on medium- high speed until pale and fluffy. Stir in peanut butter with a rubber spatula.
   5. Spread 1 1/2 tablespoons frosting onto each cupcake. Refrigerate until frosting is firm, about 10 minutes. Using tines of a fork dipped in confectioners' sugar, score each top in a crosshatch pattern. Cupcakes can be refrigerated in single layers in airtight containers up to 2 days.

Source:  Martha Stewart Living