Saturday, September 25, 2010

Billy's Bakery Vanilla Vanilla Cupcakes with Ganache

This recipe makes a delightfully fluffy, velvety and moist vanilla cupcake. They are strong enough to handle a modest inject of ganache, but I wouldn't recommend using too much filling.

To avoid baking disastrous cupcakes, please adhere to the directives in bold print. Here are my findings:
  • If the first batch of cupcakes explodes, try reducing the temperature by 25 degrees and increasing the cooking time for the second batch.
  • If the cupcakes resemble hockey pucks, the batter was over-mixed.
  • If pools of butter are visible at bottom of paper, the butter wasn't entirely room temperature when mixed into the batter (or not mixed enough, but trust me, less mixing is more)
  • If the cupcakes are super dry and without a fluffy, velvety texture, the batter was likely over-mixed.
  • If the cupcakes start to brown, reduce the temperature and increase the cooking time.


Makes about 30 cupcakes


INGREDIENTS

1 3/4 cups cake flour, not self-rising
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes, room temperature
4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325°. Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside.

2. Sift flours together.

3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine sifted flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt; mix on low speed until combined. Add butter, mixing until just coated with flour.

4. In a large glass measuring cup, whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla. With mixer on medium speed, add wet ingredients in 3 parts, scraping down sides of bowl before each addition; beat until ingredients are incorporated but do not over beat.

5. Divide batter evenly among liners, filling about two-thirds full. Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 17 to 20 minutes.

6. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat process with remaining batter.

7. When cupcakes have cooled, make ganache recipe. Depending on desired consistency, frost, whip or pour ganache onto cupcakes. I tried injecting soft-set ganache into these cupcakes, and it didn't smush the cupcake, although I didn't put much inside.


RECIPE REFERENCE

Chocolate Ganache

This recipe works great as a glaze, filling, whipped, piping and frosting. The difference between the forms resides solely in the amount of time the ganache is allowed to cool.

INGREDIENTS

  • 8 ounces of chocolate, chopped into small pieces
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • *optional 3 tbl. of flavored liqueor
  • Large, wide container
  • ice

DIRECTIONS

  1. Fill a large, wide container with ice.
  2. Place chocolate pieces in a large bowl, and place bowl in container with ice.
  3. Heat heavy cream on medium high until it comes to a boil. Stir frequently to prevent bottom from burning.
  4. Remove from heat and immediately pour cream over chocolate. Whisk until completely mixed and glossy.
  5. Allow ganache to cool in the fridge, depending on desired consistency. See below

GANACHE COOLING QUOTIENT
  1. Glaze: Cool for 5 minutes or pour immediately.
  2. Whipped/Soft-set for filling: Allow to set in fridge until just cool.
  3. Piping/Frosting: All to cool and set completely. When ganache can hold texture when scooped, it is ready to work with.

GANACHE REFERENCE