Chocolate, Lime and Ginger Cupcakes

This is another variation on the chocolate cupcake recipe. I removed the top by inserting a knife level with the top of the paper case and cut around the cupcake pointing the knife downwards to the centre of the cupcake so that a cone of sponge is removed. I then added a large spoonful of Lime Curd. You can find this recipe at MY CHUTNEY BLOG click here or on the link in the top left.
I then topped off the cupcake with 2 slices of STEM GINGER and a small piece of a bought chocolate ginger biscuit.
There could be lots of variations on this.
I like chocolate ginger chocolates and one of these could top off each cupcake to make it really special.
I could make Lemon butter cream and add some of the ginger syrup to the butter cream mixture and put this on top of the cupcakes before I put the slices of stem ginger on.
I could put fresh whipped cream on the cupcake and then add the ginger and top off with grated dark chocolate.
I could put a teaspoon of ginger liqueur on the sponge of each cupcake before I add the lime curd.
There are lots of variations.

Check out the labels list on the left for lots of decoraring ideas and recipes.Thanks for reading Crazycupcakes

Chocolate and Lime Cupcakes

To make chocolate and lime cupcakes make a batch of chocolate cupcakes.
Cool.
I make my own Lime Curd for these cupcakes.
The recipe for LIME CURD, ORANGE CURD, LEMON CURD and GRAPEFRUIT CURD is on my CHUTNEY BLOG. Just follow the link in the top left to get it.
It is so easy to make. The curd will keep in the fridge. It will also freeze well if you want to make a large batch of course you may just eat it all!
Cut out a cone from each cupcake
Fill with Lime curd
Replace the top
I then added another blob of the delicious lime curd and spread it over the top.
I grated some dark chocolate over the cupcakes.
I added a biscuit. I bought a box of fancy chocolate biscuits but you could make your own.
The combination of tangy lime curd, dark chocolate and a crunchy biscuit to add texture is a great combination.
Enjoy
Thanks for reading Crazycupcakes
Lots more ideas in the labels and all the links on either side of this post

Lime curd inside the cupcakes

The cupcakes with lime curd inside and out, grated dark chocolate and a Belgian chocolate biscuit.

Lots more ideas for all types of cupcake recipes, salads, casseroles, chutney, soup and pasta in the links on the top left and in the archives and other links. Enjoy and thanks for reading

Crazycupcakes

Chocolate Cupcakes

I decide to make some basic chocolate cupcakes recipeas I wanted to use a lot of the dark fruits that are out at the moment such as cherries and berries. I also fancied trying out a tiramisu cupcake recipe and black forest gateaux recipe. The tiramisu trifle is one of my favourite sweets at the Italian restaurants so i wanted to have a go at making a cupcake to emulate it and the black forest cupcake is based on a lot of retro food recipes and dishes that Iremember from years ago so it is good to go back to some of these tried and tested combinations.
The basic chocolate cupcake recipe I use is this;
Ingredients
1 stick--1/2 cup--4 oz--112gm unsalted butter
1 cup--4 oz--112gm Castor sugar(this finer than our granulated)
1 cup--4 oz--112gm self-raising flour( this has a raising agent already in it)
2 tablespoons of cocoa powder-I use Green and Blacks 70% cocoa organic
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla essence or 1 fresh vanilla pod
Method
Put the butter into a bowl with the sugar and cream together with a wooden spoon or a mixer on a middle speed.
Add 1 egg and mix in
Add the second egg and mix in
Add the flour and cocoa. I weigh these out first and then add to the mixture by sieving them through a large metal sieve so air gets in and the ingredients are mixed.
Mix together gently and add the vanilla essence. The photo below shows the type of mixture I get.
Divide the mixture into cupcake cases and fill about 2/3 full. This makes about 12 in muffin size cases as seen below.
I cook these at 175C--350F--gas 4 for 15 to 20 minutes in the middle to top of the oven.
I find that the higher they are in the oven the higher they rise up. If nearer the middle the cupcakes are flatter. Just experiment with positions in your oven. Mine is gas so the temperature varies.
You can see the resulting cupcakes in the last photograph.
I am going to do lots of variations later.
Thanks for reading Crazycupcakes.
Look at all the links and labels for lots more ideas which I keep adding to most weeks


The chocolate cupcake mixture

Cupcakes ready to go in the oven

Chocolate cupcakes straight out of the oven. Cool on rack.
Lots more ideas in the links, archives and labels. Enjoy

Prune and Banana Cupcakes

These are the ingredients for Prune and Banana Cupcakes Recipe. These are very moist and a lovely sponge texture.
Ingredients
175gm--6 oz--1 1/2 cups of self raising flour(this has a raising agent in it)
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
150gm--5 1/2 oz--1 cup soft brown sugar
2 bananas mashed
125gm--4 1/2 oz--1 cup ready to eat prunes chopped
5 to 6 tablespoons of orange juice
2 eggs beaten
150ml--1/4 pint--2/3 cup sunflower oil
Method
Sieve the flour and baking powder into a bowl
Add the sugar, mashed bananas, prunes and stir together
Add the orange juice, eggs and oil.
Mix together , I just used a wooden spoon and stirred gently
Divide into cupcake cases, filling the cases 1/2 to 3/4 full
I had in muffin sized cases and cooked them at gas 5--375F--190C for 15 to 20 minutes in the middle to top of the oven.
If you use smaller cases they will take less time.
You could then choose a topping of your choice. I think a vanilla butter cream topped off with a prune would be good.
Thanks for reading.
Check out the labels list and all the links for lots more of my ideas for cupcake recipes and decoration.

Fruit and Nut Soda Cupcakes

I like savoury food so I often use the cupcake idea in a way which is different. These cupcakes go well with a breakfast, afternoon tea or soup at lunch.
Ingredients
1 lb--500gm--4cups wholemeal flour
5 oz--150 gm--1 cup strong white flour
2 oz--50 gm--1/2 cup oatmeal
1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon of salt
16 to 24 fluid ozs (475 to 725 ml) butter milk or fresh milk with the juice of1/2 lemon
Individual Cupcakes Fillings
I would use one tablespoon of the chosen filling for each soda bread cupcake or I would mix in at the start with the dry ingredients 2 cups of the chosen filling and then just shape individual cakes.
Fillings I use are almonds, pistachios, dried soft prunes, dried apricots, dried cranberry, dried cherries and other dried berries.
Method
Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl
Add milk gradually mixing to a soft dough. The amount of liquid can depend upon how much liquid your type of flour absorbs
Knead and shape into a roll
Divide into 12 to 16 pieces
Flatten to a circle and add the chosen filling
Turn into the centre and shape to a ball
Repeat for each cupcake
If you have mixed in one filling at the start just shape each piece into a ball
Put the balls into cupcake cases
Top off with a fruit or nut
Cook at 220C--425F--gas 7 for 15 to 20 minutes near the middle to top of the oven.
Remove , cover with a tea cloth whilst cooling so they keep moist and soft.
The photos help to show the method and the results
These are the ingredients for the fruit and nut soda cupcakes recipe.
This is the mixture or you could call it a dough which I formed into a long shape so I could divide it into small portions for each individual soda cupcake to be made. The working surface is dusted with flour to stop the dough from sticking, as this dough can be a bit moist.

I make the soda mixture into a flat disc and then I add my chosen Ingredients. I did this so I could experiment with lots of different dried fruits and nuts. The one above is dried apricots. The one below is dried red and purple fruits like cranberry, cherry and blueberry. I then fold in the edges over the filling and knead and then form into a sphere or ball shape. I then place it into a cupcake case.

These are the soda cupcakes ready for the oven. There are also prunes, almond and pistachios soda cupcakes.

These are the cupcakes taken from the oven. I covered them with a tea towel to keep the moisture in and create a soft top to each one.

This shows two soda cupcakes in gold cupcake cases and one which has been sliced ready to serve with sweets or savoury dishes.

Thanks for reading and check out the labels list and links for more ideas. Crazycupcakes