Neapolitan Cupcakes…*
…three flavors swirled into one
A bachelorette party isn’t complete without sparkly stilettos, bubbly champagne, and of course, gourmet treats. I took part in celebrating Miss Leven’s ‘last fling before the ring’ by crafting a pretty little cupcake for the pretty little bride. My idea started when I found the ring toppers, polka dot cupcake liners, and sparky pink sprinkles at a craft store down the street. It didn’t take long before I knew I wanted to make a tri-flavored cupcake with layers and layers of whipped buttercream. Neapolitan cupcakes seemed to be the perfect fit for the bride-to-be and her beautiful bridesmaids. Lo and behold, these cupcakes were spot on—they tasted just like Neapolitan ice cream! Although the Neapolitan flavor profile is derived from the frosting and filling, not so much the cake itself…so don’t even think about taking any shortcakes with these layered treats. The moist, chocolate cupcake was balanced out with a fresh strawberry filling and a creamy, vanilla buttercream frosting. Much like its beloved ice cream counterpart, all of the flavors melt together in harmony with every bite you take.
…three flavors swirled into one
A bachelorette party isn’t complete without sparkly stilettos, bubbly champagne, and of course, gourmet treats. I took part in celebrating Miss Leven’s ‘last fling before the ring’ by crafting a pretty little cupcake for the pretty little bride. My idea started when I found the ring toppers, polka dot cupcake liners, and sparky pink sprinkles at a craft store down the street. It didn’t take long before I knew I wanted to make a tri-flavored cupcake with layers and layers of whipped buttercream. Neapolitan cupcakes seemed to be the perfect fit for the bride-to-be and her beautiful bridesmaids. Lo and behold, these cupcakes were spot on—they tasted just like Neapolitan ice cream! Although the Neapolitan flavor profile is derived from the frosting and filling, not so much the cake itself…so don’t even think about taking any shortcakes with these layered treats. The moist, chocolate cupcake was balanced out with a fresh strawberry filling and a creamy, vanilla buttercream frosting. Much like its beloved ice cream counterpart, all of the flavors melt together in harmony with every bite you take.
This ring is almost as pretty as the bride’s…totally kidding! ;)
The beautiful bride herself! Congratulations, Jessica!
The Ingredients…*
Chocolate Cupcakes
(Recipe byMartha Stewart)
(Makes ≈ 24 cupcakes)
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup warm water
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons safflower oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Chocolate Cupcakes
(Recipe byMartha Stewart)
(Makes ≈ 24 cupcakes)
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup warm water
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons safflower oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Strawberry Buttercream
(Recipe by My Baking Addiction)
3 sticks unsalted butter, softened
A pinch of fine grain sea salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 pounds confectioners’ sugar, sifted
6 ounces strawberries, pureed
4-6 tablespoons heavy cream
Vanilla Buttercream
(Recipe by Savory Sweet Life)
2 sticks of unsalted butter, softened
3-4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Up to 4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
(Recipe by My Baking Addiction)
3 sticks unsalted butter, softened
A pinch of fine grain sea salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 pounds confectioners’ sugar, sifted
6 ounces strawberries, pureed
4-6 tablespoons heavy cream
Vanilla Buttercream
(Recipe by Savory Sweet Life)
2 sticks of unsalted butter, softened
3-4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Up to 4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
The Instructions…*
For the Chocolate Cupcakes
(Recipe byMartha Stewart)
(1) Preheat oven to 350°F and line standard muffin tins with paper liners; set aside
(2) Sift together cocoa powder, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl
(3) Add eggs, warm water, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla, and mix until smooth, about 3 minutes; scrape down the sides and bottom of bowl to assure batter is well mixed
(4) Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, only until about 2/3 full
(5) Bake until tops spring back when touched, about 20 minutes, rotating pan once if needed; transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely. Meanwhile, prepare the Strawberry Buttercream…
For the Chocolate Cupcakes
(Recipe byMartha Stewart)
(1) Preheat oven to 350°F and line standard muffin tins with paper liners; set aside
(2) Sift together cocoa powder, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl
(3) Add eggs, warm water, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla, and mix until smooth, about 3 minutes; scrape down the sides and bottom of bowl to assure batter is well mixed
(4) Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, only until about 2/3 full
(5) Bake until tops spring back when touched, about 20 minutes, rotating pan once if needed; transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely. Meanwhile, prepare the Strawberry Buttercream…
For the Strawberry Buttercream
(Recipe by My Baking Addiction)
(1) In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, cream butter on medium speed until fluffy
(2) Turn your mixer down to low speed and slowly add in the confectioner’s sugar, and continue mixing until well blended
(3) Add salt, vanilla, 3 tablespoons of heavy cream and strawberry puree; Blend on low speed until moistened
(4) Add an additional 1 to 3 tablespoons of heavy cream until you reach the desired consistency; Beat at high speed until frosting is smooth and fluffy
(5) Fill cupcakes with half of strawberry buttercream using a pastry (or Ziploc) bag, and pipe the rest of the frosting on top of the cupcakes; cool in refrigerator while preparing Vanilla Buttercream…
(Recipe by My Baking Addiction)
(1) In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, cream butter on medium speed until fluffy
(2) Turn your mixer down to low speed and slowly add in the confectioner’s sugar, and continue mixing until well blended
(3) Add salt, vanilla, 3 tablespoons of heavy cream and strawberry puree; Blend on low speed until moistened
(4) Add an additional 1 to 3 tablespoons of heavy cream until you reach the desired consistency; Beat at high speed until frosting is smooth and fluffy
(5) Fill cupcakes with half of strawberry buttercream using a pastry (or Ziploc) bag, and pipe the rest of the frosting on top of the cupcakes; cool in refrigerator while preparing Vanilla Buttercream…
For the vanilla buttercream:
(Recipe by Savory Sweet Life)
(1) Beat butter for a few minutes with a mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed
(2) Add 3 cups of powdered sugar and turn your mixer on the lowest speed until the sugar has been incorporated with the butter
(3) Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla extract, salt, and 2 tablespoons of milk/cream and beat for 3 minutes
(*) If your frosting needs a more stiff consistency, add remaining sugar. If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add remaining milk 1 tablespoons at a time
(4) Frost/pipe on top of the strawberry buttercream and top with sprinkles (and diamond rings).... :)
(Recipe by Savory Sweet Life)
(1) Beat butter for a few minutes with a mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed
(2) Add 3 cups of powdered sugar and turn your mixer on the lowest speed until the sugar has been incorporated with the butter
(3) Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla extract, salt, and 2 tablespoons of milk/cream and beat for 3 minutes
(*) If your frosting needs a more stiff consistency, add remaining sugar. If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add remaining milk 1 tablespoons at a time
(4) Frost/pipe on top of the strawberry buttercream and top with sprinkles (and diamond rings).... :)
Ooohh, ahhhhh…so sparkly!
You may now eat the cupcake.
…and the bride and all her bridesmaids lived on happily ever after.