Description
These elegant gourmet cupcakes combine a soft, delicate crumb with luxurious fillings and refined frostings. Whether you’re baking for a special event or indulging in an afternoon treat, these cupcakes offer a balance of beauty, flavor, and texture. With options for both vanilla bean and chocolate bases, they’re easily customized to suit any occasion. Finish with mascarpone frosting, ganache, or your favorite filling for a stunning dessert that’s both impressive and surprisingly simple to master.
Ingredients
Cupcake Base (Vanilla or Chocolate):
½ cup unsalted butter, room temp
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla bean paste (or cocoa + coffee if chocolate)
1¼ cups cake flour or all-purpose flour
1½ tsp baking powder (or baking soda if chocolate)
¼ tsp salt
½ cup whole milk or sour cream
Optional Filling:
½ cup lemon curd, jam, or ganache
Frosting (Mascarpone Whipped or Ganache):
8 oz mascarpone cheese
¾ cup heavy cream
¼ cup powdered sugar
OR 200g dark chocolate + 150ml heavy cream for ganache
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line cupcake tin with paper liners.
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating after each. Stir in vanilla.
- Sift flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
- Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk to butter mixture. Mix gently.
- Spoon into liners ⅔ full. Bake 18–22 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool cupcakes fully.
- For filling: use piping bag to inject 1 tsp filling into center.
- For frosting: beat mascarpone, cream, and sugar until stiff peaks.
- Frost cupcakes and decorate with elegant toppings.
Notes
Use high-quality butter and vanilla for best flavor.
Mascarpone must be cold for proper frosting texture.
For more flavor, brush cooled cupcakes lightly with flavored simple syrup before filling.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American-French Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 290