Moscato Cupcakes With Duffs Swiss Meringue Buttercream Recipes

Steps:

• Place the egg whites and sugar in large metal mixer bowl set over simmering water. Whisk constantly until the sugar melts and the mixture is very thin and warm.
• Remove the bowl from the heat and whisk on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Continue beating on low speed until cool, about 15 more minutes.
• Beat in small pieces of the cool but soft butter on low speed. The mixture may "curdle" before coming together. Add vanilla extract or other flavorings if desired. Rebeat occasionally while frosting the cake to maintain a smooth texture.

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 18-by-13-inch baking sheets with parchment.
• Add the egg whites to a CLEAN stand mixer bowl. Using the whisk attachment, whisk on high speed, adding the cream of tartar, salt and 6 to 8 generous drops of blue food coloring. Whisk until combined. Slowly add half the granulated sugar and continue to whisk on high until the meringue achieves medium-stiff peaks. Don't overmix so the meringue becomes "dry." Remove the meringue to a separate bowl; replace the mixing bowl.
• Add the egg yolks and the remaining sugar to the new mixing bowl. Beat with the whisk attachment on high speed until light and doubled in volume. Add the water, oil, vanilla extract and almond extract and mix until well combined. Sift in the cake flour and mix on low until just combined. Increase the speed to high and mix for another 2 minutes. With a rubber spatula, gently fold in the egg whites.
• Divide the batter between the prepared baking sheets and spread evenly using a large offset spatula. Give the baking sheets a gentle tap on the countertop to fill any gaps and remove air pockets. Bake until the cakes spring back when gently poked, 20 to 25 minutes. Ten minutes into the bake, rotate the sheets for even baking.
• When the cakes come out of the oven, gently run a paring knife around their edges to release them from the baking sheets. Sprinkle both with confectioners' sugar and top each with a clean kitchen towel. Place a second baking sheet on top of each cake and then flip the cakes over. Remove the parchment. While the cakes are still warm, roll them up in the towels, starting at the short ends. Let cool about 20 minutes.
• For the filling: Meanwhile, add the cream cheese and confectioners' sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Mix on low to combine until smooth. Add the cream and vanilla extract and mix on low to combine. Increase the speed to high and whisk until stiff.
• Transfer a scant 1/2 cup of the filling to a small bowl. Fold in the strawberries and a drop of red food coloring.
• To assemble: Carefully unroll the cakes. Cut both cake sheets in half lengthwise. Spread the strawberry filling along the short edge of one strip of cake, covering about 2 to 3 inches. Spread the rest of the strip with plain filling. Cover the remaining 3 cake strips with plain filling.
• Start rolling the cake with the strawberry filling like a jellyroll, starting at the end with the strawberry filling. Once it's rolled up, move it over to the next strip of cake, lining it up with the edge. Continue rolling up the cake into an even bigger jellyroll. Continue with the remaining strips of cake. Wrap the cake in plastic wrap and transfer it to the freezer for 30 to 40 minutes to set. In the meantime, make the buttercream.
• For the Swiss meringue buttercream: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the egg whites, granulated sugar and salt. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water, and whisk until the sugar is completely melted and the mixture reaches 170 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.
• Transfer the mixing bowl to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whisk on high until the meringue holds stiff peaks and the bowl is cool to the touch. Add the vanilla and whisk to combine. Add the butter, a tablespoon at a time, counting to 10 between each addition. When the buttercream comes together, thickening and smoothing out into a spreadable consistency, continue whisking for 2 to 3 minutes more. (Makes 5 cups.)
• Place 1 1/2 cups buttercream in one bowl and add 2 drops blue food coloring; stir to combine. Add another 1 1/2 cups buttercream to a second bowl and add 2 drops of red food coloring; stir to combine. Leave the remaining buttercream plain.
• To finish the cake: Stand the cake vertically on a cake stand and remove the plastic wrap. Using a large offset spatula, spread an even layer of plain buttercream onto the top of the cake. Put the remaining plain buttercream, and the red and blue buttercream into separate pastry bags (or zip-top bags) and snip off about 1/4 inch from the tip.
• Pipe stripes of buttercream around the sides of the cake, alternating between the 3 colors. Use a hot bench scraper to smooth the sides of the cake (see Cook's Note).

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners.
• Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
• Beat butter and sugar together in a large bowl using an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract. Add the flour mixer and milk alternately. Fill liners 2/3 full with the batter.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 23 minutes.
• Bring a pan of water to simmer. Combine sugar, egg whites, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Place bowl on top of the pan; whisk until sugar dissolves.
• Attach bowl to the stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Beat until stiff peaks form and mixture is cool and glossy. Add butter a few tablespoons at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and mix until buttercream is smooth.
• Cool cupcakes in the tins for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool, about 20 minutes. Frost cupcakes with the buttercream.

Steps:

• Place sugar and egg whites in the heat-proof bowl of an electric mixer. Set bowl over a pan of gently simmering water, and whisk until sugar has dissolved and egg whites are hot to the touch, about 3 minutes. Test by rubbing the mixture between your fingers; it should feel completely smooth.
• Transfer bowl to mixer stand. Using the whisk attachment, beat on high speed until mixture has cooled completely and formed stiff and glossy peaks, about 10 minutes.
• Add the butter, one piece at a time, and beat until incorporated after each addition. Don't worry if the buttercream appears curdled after all the butter has been added; it will become smooth again with continued beating. Add vanilla, and beat just until combined.
• Switch to the paddle attachment, and beat on the lowest speed to eliminate any air pockets, about 5 minutes. If using buttercream within several hours, cover bowl with plastic wrap, and set aside at room temperature in a cool environment. Or transfer to an airtight container, and store in the refrigerator, up to 3 days. Before using, bring buttercream to room temperature, and beat on the lowest speed with the paddle attachment until smooth, about 5 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two muffin tins with 18 cupcake liners.
• Pass the cocoa powder, all-purpose and cake flours, baking soda and baking powder through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl. Whisk in the granulated and light brown sugars, orange zest and salt until thoroughly combined. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, sour cream, water, melted butter and vanilla until smooth. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and whisk until combined.
• Divide the batter among the cupcake liners, filling each by about two-thirds. Bake until set and a toothpick comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• Frost the cupcakes with the buttercream and garnish with candied orange peel.
• Place the egg whites and sugar in the bowl of stand mixer. Set the bowl over a pot of gently simmering water and heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the sugar has dissolved and is warm to the touch (about 160 degrees F). When you touch the mixture, it should feel completely smooth and not at all gritty.
• Immediately transfer the bowl to a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. On high speed, whip until glossy and stiff, about 15 minutes.
• Switch to the paddle attachment and lower the speed to medium. Add the butter, piece by piece, incorporating each before adding more. Lower the speed further and mix until silky and smooth.
• Remove the tops and bottoms from the oranges. Cut away the skin, removing both the peel and the white part of the skin. Cut the skin into thin strips.
• Place the peels in a medium saucepan, cover with cold water and bring to a boil. Cook for 1 minute. Drain and repeat the process two more times.
• In a large pan over medium heat, stir the sugar and 1 cup water together until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to a boil, add the peels and reduce to heat to low. Cook, swirling occasionally (no stirring!), until the peels are very soft and almost translucent, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Toss the peels in sanding sugar until completely covered, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.