CHOCOLATE TANGERINE CANNOLI CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a mini cupcake pan with 24 mini cupcake liners or a regular-size cupcake pan with 12 cupcake liners.
• Sift the flour, baking soda and salt into a medium bowl. Set the bowl aside. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with a paddle attachment, mix the water, mayonnaise and cocoa powder together. Add the granulated sugar and flour mixture and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes. Using a bowl scraper, fold in the chocolate chips.
• Fill the cupcake liners two-thirds full with batter and bake until golden and baked through, 25 to 35 minutes. Cool the cupcakes completely.
• For the filling: In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine the ricotta cheese, powdered sugar and tangerine zest on low speed until all components are thoroughly combined.
• For the ganache: Bring the heavy whipping cream to a slight boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Immediately remove from heat and pour over chocolate chips in a glass or heat resistant bowl. Gently stir the mixture until all of the chocolate chips have melted. Set in the refrigerator to expedite the cooling and thickening process.
• For the candied tangerines: Slice the tangerines into 12 medium-thin slices. Sprinkle a thick layer of sugar in a medium saucepan and lay the tangerine slices in the sugar. Sprinkle another thick layer of sugar over the top of the tangerine slices and cook the fruit over medium-high heat until caramel in color. Remove the pan from the heat and remove the tangerine slices onto a heat-resistant plate using tongs.
• To assemble: Core the cupcakes by taking a small knife to the center of each one and cutting in a circle from the top to bottom of the cake. Fill this hole with the tangerine cheese until the filling reaches the top of the cake. Using a knife, place a smattering of chocolate ganache on the top of the cupcake near the filling. Stick a wedge of the Tuile Cookie into the filling and garnish with a slice of candied tangerine.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and powdered sugar. Add the egg whites, one at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and the flour and mix until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
• With an offset spatula, spread the tuile cookie dough onto the lined cookie sheet to about 1/8-inch thick. Bake until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool completely.
• Mix the purple food coloring, vodka and cornstarch together until the desired consistency of food-safe paint is acquired. Using a medium round brush, splatter the paint onto the tuile cookie in an abstract fashion. Break the cookie into imperfect shapes (about 3-inch pieces).