Recipe courtesy of Alison Riede
Sharp Cheddar Cupcakes with Candied Pecan Topping and Honey Blue Cheese Frosting
- Level: Intermediate
- Yield: 12 cupcakes
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 12 servings
- Calories
- 665
- Total Fat
- 45
- Saturated Fat
- 21
- Carbohydrates
- 53
- Dietary Fiber
- 2
- Sugar
- 38
- Protein
- 15
- Cholesterol
- 111
- Sodium
- 427
- Total: 55 min
- Prep: 25 min
- Cook: 30 min
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup whole milk
4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 egg, beaten
2 1/2 cups shredded extra-sharp Cheddar
Candied Pecans, recipe follows
Honey Blue Cheese Frosting, recipe follows
Cheddar Cheese Crisps, recipe follows
Candied Pecans:
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups toasted pecans, finely chopped, plus 12 whole pecans
Honey Blue Cheese Frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese
1 stick butter
4 tablespoons blue cheese
2 tablespoons honey
1 cup powdered sugar
Cheddar Cheese Crisps:
1 cup shredded Cheddar
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cupcake pan with 12 liners.
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, granulated sugar, milk, butter, baking powder, vanilla and egg. Add the cheese and stir to combine. Fill the cupcake liners three-quarters full and bake for about 20 minutes. Let cool.
- Spoon a tablespoon of Candied Pecans on each cooled cupcake. Then frost each cupcake with Honey Blue Cheese Frosting. Finally, garnish with a Cheddar Cheese Crisp and 1 whole candied pecan.
Candied Pecans:
- Combine the brown sugar, 1/4 cup water and butter in saucepan. Heat over medium heat until the sugar melts. Stir in all the pecans. Continue cooking over medium heat until the sugar reaches a full boil, stirring occasionally. Watch carefully as the sugar will boil fairly quickly. As soon as the mixture reaches full boil, remove from the heat and transfer to a bowl to cool. Remove the whole pecans and save for garnish. Spoon candied pecans over cupcakes when sugar becomes sticky and not too runny.
Honey Blue Cheese Frosting:
- Cream the cream cheese and butter together in a mixer. Add the blue cheese and honey. Slowly add the powdered sugar and mix well.
Cheddar Cheese Crisps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Drop quarter-size mounds of cheese on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until the cheese is crispy, about 5 minutes.