Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Mascarpone Filling and Zinfandel Buttercream

Recipe courtesy Marilyn Norris, Cupcake Wars 2010

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Picture of Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Mascarpone Filling and Zinfandel Buttercream Recipe Photo: Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Mascarpone Filling and Zinfandel Buttercream Recipe
Rated 4 stars out of 5
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  • Read 5 Reviews
Total Time:
1 hr 49 min
Prep
1 hr 30 min
Cook
19 min
Yield:
27 cupcakes
Level:
Intermediate
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Ingredients

Swiss Meringue Buttercream:

  • 2 3/4 cups sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups pasteurized egg whites
  • 2 1/2 cups (5 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Mascarpone Swiss Meringue Buttercream:

  • 2 ounces dark chocolate discs, melted and cooled
  • 3 ounces mascarpone cheese, room temperature, softened with the back of a spoon

Zinfandel Swiss Meringue Buttercream:

  • 3 tablespoons Zinfandel Wine

Chocolate Cupcakes:

Chocolate Frosting:

Directions

Cook's Note: If using unbleached all-purpose flour instead of unbleached pastry flour, reduce the flour quantity to 2 cups.

For the Swiss meringue buttercream: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, thoroughly whisk together the sugar and egg whites. Set the bowl over a pan of boiling water. Whisking constantly, heat to 145 to 150 degrees F. Return the mixing bowl to the stand and whisk until stiff and the bottom of the bowl comes to room temperature, about 8 minutes.

Change to the paddle attachment and turn the mixer to low speed. Add the butter, a few cubes at a time, until incorporated. Mix at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and mix until combined. Use 4 cups for the flavored buttercreams in this recipe, and reserve the remaining 4 cups for another use.

For the chocolate mascarpone buttercream: Fold the melted and cooled chocolate and the mascarpone cheese into 2 cups of the Swiss meringue buttercream.

For the Zinfandel buttercream: Blend the Zinfandel wine into 2 cups of the Swiss meringue buttercream. Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large straight pastry tip.

For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line standard cupcake pans with 27 cupcake liners.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the sugar, buttermilk, and oil. Mix well. Add the eggs and vanilla, mixing on low speed until completely mixed together. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and sea salt into a separate bowl and whisk together. In a liquid measuring cup, mix the water with the instant coffee, dissolving the coffee powder completely. Add 1/2 the dry ingredients to the buttermilk mixture just until incorporated. Mix in the water and coffee mixture. Add the rest of the dry ingredients, mixing until combined, and then beat for 2 minutes.

Fill the cupcake liners 3/4 full and bake until golden brown, 17 to 20 minutes. Cool the cupcakes completely.

For the chocolate frosting: Heat the cream until hot but do not boil. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate. Stir until completely melted and smooth. Set aside to cool. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and salt until smooth. Add 1/2 the powdered sugar, mixing until smooth. Add the chocolate and the remaining powdered sugar and mix until creamy. Adjust to desired spreading consistency with additional cream or powdered sugar, if needed. Place in a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.

To assemble: Remove a piece from the center of each cupcake and fill the cupcake with about 1 tablespoon chocolate mascarpone Swiss buttercream. Pipe a generous amount of chocolate frosting onto the top of the cupcake. Pipe a dollop of Zinfandel Swiss meringue buttercream on top of the chocolate frosting. Top with half a strawberry and drizzle with melted chocolate.

  • This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 5 reviews

  • on June 02, 2013

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    Had a great review from friends and family. I wasn't able to find the mascarpone cheese so I made my own. That was the only thing I did different. I didn't have to add extra flower or anything, but after reading reviews I was ready too. I will definitely be making these again!!!

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  • on March 07, 2012

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    I made these cupcakes for a baby shower and they were a huge hit!! Not only did I receive compliments on the design of the cupcake the guests were floored by the intense infusion of flavors. I was even told I should do cupcake wars after making these. I chuckled and said I was just a good copycat!! I truly enjoyed making these and did not experience any issues at all with the recipe!!

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • on November 01, 2011

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    I had many compliments after baking these cupcakes! I took Chy190's advice and added the extra cup of flour, baking powder, and cocoa and the cupcakes were good! I tried to "inject" the cupcakes with the chocolate mascarpone filling but it didn't work out well so I ended up removing part of the centers and then filling them. Also, when trying to mix the Zinfandel to the buttercream, it curdeled! Overall, it tasted great!

    people found this review Helpful.
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