I love the simplicity and the classic flavor of vanilla. It’s my favorite. Vanilla, Vanilla Baby! There really is nothing like the pure smooth flavor that pairs with everything vanilla! All you naysayers that claim it’s boring or basic, you are all so wrong! It’s the best and you better remember that! The cupcakes have a super light yet moist crumb that are oozing with all that vanilla flavor! I then topped it off with a satiny, smooth, more vanilla flavored Swiss Meringue Buttercream with a hint of the tart effervescent (yes, I had to google the spelling for this) bite of prosecco. Perfection!
I created these for my friend’s sister’s bachelorette party. Say that five times fast. I wanted something light and airy while being elegant and sweet! I knew my friend would balance out the elegance and sweetness with some naughty! So, for the decorations, I went with these adorable glittery heart cupcake toppers in gold and silver. Get it, hearts, love, marriage…always thinking. I then topped them off with some Fancy Sprinkles, literally I got them from Fancy Sprinkles! Check them out, they have a lot of fun colors to choose from! My friend may or may not have further adorned these lovelies with some adult, male parts, I am not referring to their feet, if you get what I mean, and I know you do 🙂
These cupcakes will be on my regular rotation, sans male part decorations. You can have fun and experiment with the flavors of the frosting too! Like I said, everything pairs with vanilla!
So pretty, just look at those satiny ribbons of buttery meringue, mmmm butter…
I think these are great for any celebration, especially for weddings, showers, bachelorette parties, confirmed bachelorette parties (I’m going to make that a thing, why should the confirmed bachelors have all the fun) you name it. They not only are beautiful to look at, but they are delicious to eat! Also, depending on your party theme, the simple white backdrop of the cupcake is the perfect blank canvas for any decoration. Even golden naughty anatomically correct body parts!! Just sayin’, anything goes!
Enjoy!
Diane
- For the Cupcakes:
- 1⅔ cups cake flower
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- ¼ tsp. baking soda
- ½ tsp. salt
- ½ cup whole milk room temp.
- 3 egg whites room temp
- 2 tsp. vanilla bean paste or the seeds from 1 vanilla bean
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 stick unsalted butter – room temp
- ¼ cup Mascarpone – room temp
- For the Buttercream:
- 4 ½ sticks unsalted butter sticks butter
- 1 ½ cup sugar
- 7 egg whites
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste
- ½ cup prosecco reduced by half
- For the cupcakes:
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup cupcake pan with liners and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine your dry ingredients and whisk to combine, then set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter until smooth about 2 minutes. Slowly add in the sugar and continue to beat for another 3 to 5 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add the mascarpone and beat until combined. Beat the egg whites until slightly foamy. Add to the butter sugar mixture in three pours. Beat after each addition until incorporated. Add the vanilla extract.
- Add ⅓ of the dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated. Add half of the wet mixture and combine. It will curdle some, that’s ok. Add another third of the dry and mix. Then add the rest of the wet mixture and combine. Last, add the rest of the dry ingredients and mix to combine. Do not over mix.
- Using an ice-cream scoop or about ⅓ cup, fill each cupcake liner ¾ full. Gently even out tops with offset spatula or knife.
- Bake on middle rack of the oven for 16 to 18 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Let cool for 10 minutes in pan on rack. Then remove from pan and allow to cool completely on the rack.
- For the buttercream:
- In a small saucepan over medium low heat, reduce the prosecco by half. (1/4 cup) Remove from heat and set aside.
- Place egg whites, salt and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Place bowl over medium saucepan with about an inch of simmering water on the stove top.
- Whisk constantly until the sugar is dissolved. Should take about 10 minutes. You can tell when it’s done by rubbing a small amount of the mixture between your fingers. If there is no graininess, it’s done.
- Remove bowl from double boiler and attach to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk on medium high until stiff peaks form, about 10 minutes and the bottom of the bowl is cool to the touch.
- Switch to the paddle attachment and your butter slowly a piece at time. Mixture will eventually curdle but keep mixing until smooth and shiny. Add the vanilla bean paste and the prosecco.
- Mix to combine.
- Frost cooled cupcakes as desired. Store covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. Allow to come to room temperature before serving.
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