Apple-Spice Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting Sprinkled with Walnuts and Gorgonzola
Ingredients
Apple Filling:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 granny smith apple, peeled, cored, and chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Apple-Spice Cupcakes:
1 2/3 cups unbleached pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
Vanilla Frosting:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Walnut and Gorgonzola Topping:
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup crumbled gorgonzola
Honey, for drizzling
Preparation:
For filling:
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, water, apples, cinnamon, and salt. Stir occasionally until apples are soft, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Set aside to cool.
For Cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line standard cupcake pans with 14 cupcake liners.
Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice, ginger, cayenne, and salt into a medium bowl and whisk to combine. In a separate small bowl, mix the buttermilk and vanilla. In a bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, scraping the edges of the bowl after each addition. Turn the mixer to the lowest speed and, in equal parts, add the flour and buttermilk mixture.
Fill the cupcake liners 3/4 full with cupcake batter. Place 1 teaspoon apple filling on top of each cupcake, and gently swirl . Bake until golden brown, about 17-20 minutes. Cool the cupcakes completely before frosting.
For the Topping:
Combine the walnuts and gorgonzola, making sure to crumble the mixture after it is combined.
To assemble:
Frost each cupcake with vanilla icing (I used a 1M tip.) Sprinkle a small handful of gorgonzola mixture on top. Finishing, with a drizzle of honey
*Sprinkle the gorgonzola walnut mixture right before serving*