Iron Cupcake:Earth
Theme: Cheese
My entry: Apple & Sharp Cheddar Cupcake w/ Spiced SMBC
Voting begins: Sunday, October 26 at 12 noon Central @ http://mkecupcakequeen.blogspot.com
I joined Iron Cupcake within its first month of being launched. But a new job AND a job with my family made it impossible for me to participate in the first two challenges. NOT THIS MONTH! My first IC challenge went very well. When I first found out the theme was cheese, my mind went directly to my grandma. Every time she plans on making an apple pie, there is always one ingredient that can't escape her grocery list: cheddar cheese! She won't eat a slice of apple pie without cheddar melted on top. And not just any cheddar, New York sharp cheddar! I always thought it was wierd, but over the years I discovered that my grandma isn't the only wierdo doing this. Cheddar is a common accompaniment to apple pie. Go figure! So that's where the inspiration for this cupcake came from.
The cupcake tastes great! The cake part is very moist and really spicy. Next time, I'll reduce the spices by half. Also, the apple and cheese, are indistinguishable. I recommend finely dicing the apple instead of shredding it. And I'd probably put the cheese on top before baking next time. That way it's obvious that the cheese is there. As for the frosting, you already know I love it! It's Swiss meringue buttercream, to which I added the same spices I used in the cake. The flavor is very warm and pairs perfectly with the cupcake! I finished them off with pieces of pie crust in the shape of apples (gotta love Pampered Chef's "Creative Cutters!"). Overall, I'm very proud of my first Iron Cupcake!
IngredientsWet ingredients + dry ingredients Ready for the oven... See the cheese??
Mmmm... cooling!
All dressed up in silky SMBC!
Apple & Sharp Cheddar Cupcake (pictured here w/ Babybel cheese!)
Mmmm... cooling!
All dressed up in silky SMBC!
Apple & Sharp Cheddar Cupcake (pictured here w/ Babybel cheese!)
Voting will begin on Sunday, October 26 at 12 noon (Central) at NO ONE PUTS CUPCAKE IN A CORNER, http://mkecupcakequeen.blogspot.com/, and will be open through Thursday, October 30 at 12 noon (Central).
Both recipes were created by yours truly!
Apple & Sharp Cheddar Cupcakes
Makes 12
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon (reduce to 1/2 tsp)
1/4 teaspoon allspice (reduce to 1/8 tsp)
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg (omit)
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups peeled, cored and shredded Rome apples (I'd use diced apples next time)
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 350F. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, spices, and sugar in a large bowl. In a large measuring cup, mix together eggs, oil, vanilla, apples and cheese (I recommend omitting the cheese from the batter and topping the cupcakes with it right before they go into the oven). Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Fill the cupcake liners 3/4 full with batter. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 5 minutes. Finish cooling cupcakes on a wire rack.
Spiced Swiss Meringue Buttercream
Makes enough to generously frost 12 cupcakes
4 large egg whites
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, barely softened, cut into tablespoons
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Put egg whites and sugar in a glass bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Whisking constantly, cook until sugar has dissolved and mixture is warm (about 160 degrees).
Pour into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat egg white mixture on high speed until it forms stiff (but not dry) peaks. Continue beating until fluffy and cooled, 6-7 minutes.
Switch to the paddle attachment. With mixer on medium-low, add butter several tablespoons at a time, beating well after each addition. (If frosting appears to separate after all butter has been added, beat on high speed until it thickens, 3 to 5 minutes). Beat in spices. Color, if desired. Reduce speed to low; beat 2 minutes to eliminate air bubbles. Stir with a rubber spatula until smooth.
Overall rating on a scale of 1-5
Moistness: 5
Tenderness: 5
Frosting: 5
Prizes provided by:
Etsy artist, Art On The Menu, with her awesome little cardboard cupcake
A pair of cupcake earrings from Lots of Sprinkles
As an added bonus for October only, we have a sassy and sweet tee from Bakelove Bakewear
Corporate prize providers:
HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS
HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson
JESSIE STEELE APRONS
CUPCAKE COURIER
TASTE OF HOME books
Iron Cupcake:Earth is sponsored in part by 1-800-Flowers
33 comments:
Wow!!! What a idea you have. I really surprised by seeing your idea. Really you have done a great job by providing the recipe. Thanks for sharing this in your post with us. Waiting for your next post like this.
What do I pack my dad everyday for lunch? A muffin, apple, and cheese. I am definately going to have to make these for him.
i can't even begin to imagine what this would taste like!
apple cheese cupcake?
ur very very creative.
and the buttercream looks so silky!!
Those look amazing! I bet they taste great too. Interestin flavor combination... I have yet to get baking on mine... I must keep brainstorming!
How adorable!!! I especially love the apple-shaped pie-crust topper! Very creative and they look scrumptious!
Hey! I would've responded on my blog, but I figured you wouldn't go back to check haha I work at The Pines Residential Treatment Center. But what I really love to do is decorate cakes so I've been looking for places to work.
I applied to La Choclatier, and they said they were full... :( I sent them cake pictures and everything. But I am going to apply to Sugar Plum soon.
Fabu job! I have a feeling I won't make it in time this round but I know who I am swinging my vote for... ;)
/Clara
It got 5's across the board! Sweet! Remind me when the voting starts, and I'll have to hook you up. Beautiful entry my dear cupcake :)
they look great...i cant wait to make them!!!!
I'm not sure about the cheese and apples as I've never tried the two but I like colby jack with strawberries , so.....
Getting back on track, good luck and your cupcakes look beautiful!
~ingrid
I was thinking about making this same type of cupcake for Iron Cupcake, but knew that someone else would probably do it much better than I could. Great job! They look great!
these look nice and the recipe is great. I ll have tough competition this time :) I still didn t bake my cupcakes for the copmetition I ve been so busy but at least the recipe is ready. I like apple pie but I ve never tried it with cheddar cheese. Next time i LL TRY IT :) Seems interesting
great job!Cheese and apple?!But they look amazing!=)
Love the combination and I totally love the cute little apples on top of the cupcakes. Great idea!
This recipe looks awesome. Apples and cheddar chees are my fav and what a great way to shake it up a bit. I appreciate your side notes regarding the recipe. Great job thanks for sharing.
Debbie/Phx AZ
That icing looks delectable!! LOVE the pie crust apples!!! LOVE THEM!!
Yummy! Those sound incredible to this pregnant lady right now! :)
I'm voting for ya. Thanks for the Pampered Chef shout out! I'm a consultant and love the products. My girls love those little cutter too, for all kinds of things.
hi
These photos look great and so do your bowls are they glass, i love single coloured bowls they really look good
Geat entry!
Sorry! I didn't mean to give away PR! I should've known that not everyone saw it the same time I did.
Ahhh, I see. Well, at least I now know that I wasn't turned down because of my cake pictures!
As for the Sugar Plum... I think that some are mentally handicapped and there are people hired to train them, but I think they hire non-handicapped folks as well... But I'll look into them. I'm also going to try to hit up Custom Cake Shoppe over on the boulevard.
HOLY AWESOME CUPCAKES! Just wandered on in here thru another blog and I am SOOOOO happy I did!!! I am dying to make these!!
~melody~
YUM! I love apple and cheddar together in pie -- but in a cupcake, how delicious and creative!!
I am fascinated by this recipe. The cakes look beautiful, and I adore a tart granny smith with a sharp cheese. I wonder about the spice with the cheese though, obviously it works!:)
i made these over the weekend...it was very good! i didn't have all spice so i used 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/8 nutmeg.
Hello, i made this cupcakes and they tested sooo good, but my buttecream didnt get stiff as yours, maybe because the hot weather in my country...
Thanks anyway it a great recipe..
Jackie
I'm so jealous of your Iron Cupcake idea... I was just going to use something with Cream Cheese, but now I have to step my game up!! Nice Job!
Okay, this is gonna sound stupid but I re-read your post and burst out laughing when you said "your grandma's not the only wierdo doing this". Too, too funny! Everytime I think of it I laugh. I'm laughing now while I type this so excuse the typos!
~ingrid
Sounds amazing! I voted for you :D Good luck!
Wow, delicious. I tried these & they turned out great - i thank you, my boyfriend thanks you, and so do the folks at work!
i finally got around to trying this recipe and it turned out better then i had expected... everyone at home loved it, but i wished it was a little bit more moist (maybe cause i'm a bit more critcal of my own cooking).. what kind of changes can i make to the recipe to help with that? thanks =)
omg looks so yummy!!!
MY NAME IS NATALIE AND I LOVE YOU. :'D I found this searching for baybel cheese and now I can't seem to leave your blog.
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