Polenta Birthday Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting

Recipe courtesy Michael Chiarello

Show: Easy Entertaining with Michael ChiarelloEpisode: It's the Big One - Birthday Party

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (6)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(6)

Cook Time:
25 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
24 cupcakes

Times:

Prep: 25 min
Inactive Prep: 1 hr 0 min
Cook: 25 min
Total:: 1 hr 50 min

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Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup polenta, medium ground
1/2 teaspoon gray salt
2 sticks butter, softened
2 cups sugar, plus a pinch for whipping egg whites
6 eggs, separated
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 lemons, zested
16 ounces mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup powdered sugar
4 cups mixed berries (raspberry, blueberry, blackberry)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Line 2 cupcake pans with 12 paper muffin cups each. Sift together the flour and baking powder and stir in the polenta and salt.

In a mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy. With the mixer running add the egg yolks, 1 at a time. Beat in the milk, vanilla, and lemon zest. With the mixer on low speed add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until just incorporated.

In a clean, dry bowl whip the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add a pinch of sugar while the whites are mixing. Add half of the whites to the mixture and beat with the paddle. Remove the bowl from the mixer and gently fold in the remaining egg whites with a spatula to incorporate air and lighten the batter.

Spoon the batter into the lined muffin molds to fill the cups about 2/3 full.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until the tops are golden and a wooden skewer comes out clean when inserted into the center. Cool the entire pan on a wire rack for a few minutes before removing the individual cupcakes. Cool the cupcakes completely to room temperature before frosting.

Combine mascarpone with the confectioners' sugar and beat together with a whisk until combined. Ice the cupcakes and decorate with the berries.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Polenta Birthday Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting
Elaine Brewster, NY 06-06-2009
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Very Interesting flavor!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I had trouble finding the correct Polenta until I went to an Italian Speciality Store. It was worth seeking it out because... it definitely added an interesting note in the flavor. It was almost a hint of a corn muffin but lighter and better. The gray salt added more interest to the overall flavor.I will definitely make these again!Read more
recipe Polenta Birthday Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting
carla knightdale, NC 05-02-2009
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It could have been baker error for me as well.
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

I also had trouble with the medium grind polenta (cornmeal). I liked the recipe but i think i will change the medium grind... polenta to a fine grind and see how that works. At least they looked pretty just wished they had worked out better.Read more
recipe Polenta Birthday Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting
emir san Diego, CA 01-08-2009
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Very taste!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I will definitely make these again.
recipe Polenta Birthday Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting
natalie austin, TX 08-28-2008
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Could have been baker error
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

What a bummer! These didn't turn out how I thought they would at all. THe texture of the polenta in the baked product was not... great. It was the same texture as eating raw pasta and having it stuck in your teeth. Was it supposed to be cooked? I don't think so b/c it was listed in the dry ingredients. The flavor, however, was awesome. The gray salt really brings something here. It's too bad that the cakes were like little bricks. Also, the frosting was way too stiff and tore the tops off of the cakes I tried to frost. It tasted like I had tried to smear sweet cream butter on top. I had to keep turning off the mixer and scraping the cheese of the whisks. I ultimately had to throw everything out.Read more
recipe Polenta Birthday Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting
Mary Carson City, NV 10-19-2007
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Polenta? Who knew?
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

These were surprisingly delicious! I say surprisingly because I think of polenta in a savory way. Most definately a keeper.
recipe Polenta Birthday Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting
Jo Ann Nashville, TN 10-19-2007
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Polenta Birthday Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Very easy to make and the end results were wonderful. An interesting combination of ingredients but no one's complaining. We... will definitely make these again.Read more