Best Red Velvet Cupcakes With Mascarpone Cream Cheese Icing Recipes

RED VELVET CAKE WITH MASCARPONE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Place cupcake liners in two cupcake pans.
• Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Stir together the hot water and cocoa powder in a small bowl until smooth; let cool slightly. Stir together the milk and vinegar in another small bowl and let stand until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Whisk together the oil, eggs and vanilla in a large bowl until smooth. Whisk in the red food coloring and the cocoa mixture. Alternate whisking in the flour mixture in three additions and the milk in two, starting and ending with the flour, until just combined. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes in the pans, then remove to cooling racks and let cool completely.
• For the frosting: Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese, mascarpone, butter, vanilla and salt with an electric mixer on medium speed in a large bowl until smooth and fluffy. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until smooth. Increase the speed to high and beat until very fluffy and there is no gritty texture left from the sugar. Beat in the milk to adjust the consistency if the frosting seems too thick.
• Transfer the frosting to a pastry bag with a medium round tip. Pipe a circle onto each of the cupcakes.
• Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave or in a double boiler. Transfer the chocolate to a small piping bag and snip a tiny hole. Pipe a spiral on each of the cupcake tops that spans the full size of the top. Run a toothpick from the center point of the spiral and drag to the edge of the cupcake. Do this 3 to 5 times, creating a web. Repeat with the remaining cupcakes. Top with a gummy spider, if using. Spooky!

RED VELVET CUPCAKES WITH MASCARPONE CREAM CHEESE ICING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°; grease jumbo muffin cups (3 ½ inch in diameter and 2 inches deep) with butter or cooking spray and lightly flour them, knocking out the excess flour, or line them with baking papers.
• In a bowl, stir the food coloring and cocoa powder together to make a smooth paste; set aside.
• Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Add in the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition, then add the cocoa paste while continuing to beat.
• Decrease mixer speed to medium and beat the batter for about 4 minutes.
• In another bowl, sift the cake flour, all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda together.
• Stir the vanilla into the buttermilk (can be done in the measuring cup).
• Add the flour in 3 increments alternately with the buttermilk in 2 increments, starting and ending with the flour; beat on medium speed just until ingredients are combined.
• Add the sour cream and vinegar and beat on low speed until combined.
• Fill the muffin cups ¾ full with batter.
• Bake for 25-35 minutes, just until the cupcakes feel firm to touch and a pick comes out clean (do not overbake or the cupcakes will dry out).
• Remove from the oven and let cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then unmold onto a wire rack and let cool completely before frosting.
• Make the icing: in a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat the butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the mascarpone on very low speed until just combined (be careful; once you've added the mascarpone, excessive beating can make the frosting curdle).
• Stir in the vanilla or mint extract.
• Frost the top of each muffin with the icing; if desired, sprinkle the crushed peppermint candy evenly over the cupcakes.