11/8/09

devil's food cupcakes w/ salty mascarpone frosting

Is it just me or do you all love to use mascarpone cheese as much as I? Seriously I keep finding new uses for it, good yes, but bad because it's so expensive and I use it a lot in my experiments. Why is it so expensive? Is it hard to make and/or arduous to make? Well, I do love the flavor it brings out in frostings, glazes, and then we have the whole pasta-family too. What other uses am I missing here? Candy? I'm drawing a blank because of my lack of sleep. Well, anywho, it's obvious I love to bake and create with mascarpone cheese. I love that it has a slightly sweet flavor and not an overpowering cheese flavor, hence my latest creation. I came up with this frosting based on my never-ending love for the salty & sweet. This frosting is the show stopper here. It's not that salty, just a hint because the marscapone cheese has a nice delicate sweetness to it so I really didn't want to make it too salty. And the devil's food cake wasn't too chocolately. I wanted a mild chocolate cake base because the frosting has a delicate taste. I used a basic devil's food cupcake recipe from Bobby Flay (Note: when you click on the link you'll see Bobby Flay added in a peanut butter filling, I obviously didn't do that, but let me know if you try it--it sounded good though). If you don't want to use his recipe you can use your own, but I do suggest trying to keep with the devils food theme.

devil's food cupcakes w/ salty mascarpone frosting
cupcakes adapted from Bobby Flay
print recipe

1 1/4 cups cake flour
1/2 cup Dutch processed unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup strong, hot coffee

Set rack in the middle of oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Line a 12 slot muffin pan with large paper or foil cupcake liners.

Sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt together 3 times. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together at high speed for 15 seconds until combined. Add the eggs 1 at a time beating until each is incorporated. Continue beating until light and fluffy, about 6 minutes longer. With the mixer at its lowest speed, beat in 1/3 the flour mixture. Beat in the buttermilk and vanilla, then another third of the flour. Beat in the coffee and then the remaining flour. Fill the sections of the muffin tin 1/2 full and bake for 15 minutes or until the centers spring back when lightly pressed. Set pan on a rack to cool.

Salty Mascarpone Frosting
By Dawn

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, very soft/room temp
½ box of confectioners' sugar, sifted (16 oz box, used half)
8 ounces of mascarpone cheese, slightly room temp.
½ TB sea salt
1 TB flour
1 - 1 ½ TB half & half

In a mixing bowl, cream butter until smooth, slowly add in sifted confectioners sugar, the sea salt, the flour and mix; you should add in a touch of the half & half--you might not need all the 1 and ½ TB of half & half. Start with a little at a time, I used “barely” 1 TB, but I like my frosting very thick. So use your own judgment and preference.

60 comments:

  1. Unfortunately at this point it's just you, since I'm allergic to mascarpone - but I do love the stuff ;)

    Oooh, Bobby's PB filling idea does sound enticing!

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  2. Nop, it's not just you! Everybody loves mascarpone I think (sorry Liz about your allergy). I could eat it just plain I think! I'm sure it made a great frosting, chocolate and salty things are yummy!

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  3. Oh yes, I LOVE marscarpone and sweet and salty is always so nice. :) I'm craving chocolate now. I'll have to make my "quick" chocolate cookies tonight. :)

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  4. I usually hate frosting, but maybe I just haven't found the right one. This frosting looks AMAZING!

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  5. I adore mascarpone, but never use it. Not sure why! These look like everything a cupcake should be!

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  6. Wow, These cupcake are to die for,Yum... Mascarpone!!

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  7. Um yes, I totally LOVE the stuff.

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  8. I love love LOOOOVE mascarpone. Sadly I don't cook or bake with it enough. But I should. Could you send me some of those cupcakes please? Those looks soo good.

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  9. Oh. Sweet. Heaven. I'm dying from those photos. Really tempting. Really.

    Cheers,

    *Heather*

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  10. I love mascarpone!!! I so craving for this cake. Want it NOW NOW NOW!!

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  11. Maybe it's because the word mascarpone is fun to say... as long as you don't use a Giada voice... that would get old quick :)

    I second why is it so expensive? Lets learn to make this ourselves :)

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  12. I wish I could use mascarpone more often, but it`s just too addicting and expensive. If i eat cream cheese frosting out of the bowl by the spoonful, I can`t imagine what would happen if it was mascarpone instead. Those cupcakes look delicious!

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  13. I put marscapone on cinnamon toast and then top it with thinly sliced pears, it's heaven! This sounds to die for, just to die for.

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  14. salty frosting??? i need to try that!! *yum*

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  15. YUM! I agree- I think mascarpone should be wayyy cheaper- its so delicious. Love this salty sweet combo

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  16. these look so simple and perfect

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  17. I love mascarpone, but don't use it often. I find it's pretty inexpensive at TJs, fyi...

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  18. I love mascarpone cheese in frosting and filling and even more so with chocolate! That cupcake with the bite taken out of it is so calling my name.

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  19. Hmmm, never tried anything with mascarpone cheese before. Must research.....

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  20. Mmmm! I'm looking for a good chocolate cupcake recipe for a bday party I'm hosting in a couple of weeks :)

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  21. i'm surprised you didn't do the peanut butter aspect; i know you're a fan of the combination. these are a tasty treat regardless, and i love the unique frosting!

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  22. Those devil's food cupcakes look almost angelic with the mascarpone frosting! I don't eat nearly enough mascarpone, much less cook with it. However, thanks to Esi's comment, I will have to check out TJ. Then, I could very well develop mascarpone madness!

    You mentioned using it in pasta - I'll have to scan your archives for recipes!

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  23. These look awesome! And by the way, I've heard it's very simple to make your own mascarpone! Gotta google it.

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  24. Love the mascarpone too! I'm emailing you a recipe to make your own. I haven't tried it yet, but if you do, let me know if it turns out.

    Salty and sweet = YUM. Your cupcake photo is gorgeous! The paper looks like a pleated skirt.

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  25. Drooling over the salt mascarpone frosting! Excellent idea!

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  26. Wow...these look fabulous! I love that last photo!

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  27. Sadly, no dairy for me, used to love it. What a grwat combo.

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  28. it puts the holey moley in canolli - this sounds so good - ok - you talked me into it, you can send me some!

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  29. I've never had mascarpone! Well not that I can think of. I'll have to try it!

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  30. mmmmm marscapone...looks delicious!

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  31. This is so yum! I like the idea of a mascarpone frosting.

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  32. I am digging the frosting! I love, love, love mascarpone.

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  33. I have to admit - I'm too cheap to normally splurge on mascarpone! But these do look so good that you are tempting me to break the budget!

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  34. Yes, I love to use mascarpone cheese as much as you do! I was fantasizing about making a smoothie with it today...

    That cupcake with the bite taken out is so cute!

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  35. OMG !! My month is watering right now. Looks divine

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  36. I love mascarpone too and always wonder why it's so expensive! Those cupcakes look delicious and the salty kick sounds fun.

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  37. I've been looking for just the right recipe to use up some extra mascarpone that's sitting in my fridge. Looks like I just found it. Thanks for sharing!!

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  38. Those cupcakes look so soft and fluffy! A great match with the mascarpone - love that you salted it!

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  39. These look fantastic Dawn. Mascarpone is such a treat :)

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  40. I (& my kiddos) love mascarpone cheese. Because it's so pricey I horde it and take special care to really think about what I'm putting it in. I never think frosting. More often than not I add a bit of powdered sugar, a splash of almond extract, some berries, and we go at it. :)

    Thanks for passing along the frosting idea!
    ~ingrid

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  41. I think your salty marscarpone frosting beats Bobby's peanut butter filling hands down! Soon he may show up and want a showdown with you but I think he is the one who should worry!

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  42. Bowing to your genius!!!!

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  43. oh damn girl..I love mascarpone cheese. But yep, it is sooooo expensive and you have to use it right away after you open it.
    I could slather it on my toes and eat it. Well ok, that is just plain nasty..but I love the stuff!!!

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  44. I'm not a huge fan of chocolate cake, but salty frosting for some reason really jumped out at me. Can you think of another cake you think this might pair well with so I have an excuse to try it?

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  45. I love mascarpone too, but don't use it nearly enough.
    Great looking cupcakes...think I will leave out Bobby Flay's peanut butter filling too.

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  46. Great idea using mascarpone, it's not as heavy as cream cheese and has a delicate sweet taste. Sounds really good!

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  47. how do i sign up for the job of taking bites for your pictures?

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  48. I'm with you, i love mascarpone, if it were so damn fattening and expensive...I'd use it a whole lot more and be big as a house!

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  49. that frosting is to die for!!!! I am such a sucker for cupcakes. mmmm

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  50. I am a huge Mascarpone nut and I think it makes one of the best frostings, so kudos to you for giving it a go. I would have to keep these far away otherwise they would not last long around me.

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  51. Oh those look so good... No matter how many chocolate cupcakes I've made and eaten, they just never get old!

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  52. I love how spongy and rich your cupcakes are, the salty cheese would taste amazing on top, how fabulous!

    You are not the only one who loves mascarpone I sure love it too, but it is ones of those cheese that only seems to appear at special times.....maybe I should use it more than I do?

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  53. i have actually never done anything with mascarpone, but these look marvelous!

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  54. I do love the sound of these cupcakes, but I don't think I've ever had mascarpone before. I know!!!

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  55. mascarpone frosting, yum yum! you are definitely not the only one who likes it :D

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  56. I think the combo of light chocolate cupcake and just salty mascarpone frosting is fabulous! I have also fallen in love with mascarpone and have been thinking of ways to use it just like you have. Beautiful!

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  57. I love mascarpone. I love butter, especially salty butter. I thought this sounded great, but I didn't like it at all. Not sure why - both mascarpone and butter were fresh, used good fleur de sel.. but something tasted off about it.

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  58. Your blog is So fantastically pretty. wow. Just lovely!

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  59. I think a raspberry jam filling would amazing with these.

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