Recipe courtesy of Jane Vasterling
Stilton Cheese, Pear and Toasted Walnut Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Cucumber Dill Topping
- Level: Intermediate
- Total: 13 hr 15 min
- Prep: 40 min
- Inactive: 12 hr
- Cook: 35 min
- Yield: 24 cupcakes
Ingredients
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
One 15-ounce can pears in light syrup
1/2 cup oil
2 large eggs
3 ounces Stilton, crumbled
2 ounces walnuts, chopped and toasted, see Cook's Note
Thinly sliced cucumber twists, for garnish
Fresh dill sprigs, for garnish
Cream Cheese Cucumber Dill Topping, recipe follows
Cream Cheese Cucumber Dill Topping:
1/2 medium cucumber, peeled
2 cups cream cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
Pinch salt
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 12-cup muffin pans with cupcake liners.
- Put the sugar, flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Strain the pears and puree in a food processor. Put the oil in an electric mixing bowl. Beat in the eggs one at a time.
- Add the pears, cheese and walnuts to the flour mixture and coat well. Gently fold in the egg and oil mixture by hand. Fill each muffin cup three-quarters full with batter. Bake 20 to 25 minutes.
- To assemble: Put the Cream Cheese Cucumber Dill Topping into a pastry bag and top each cupcake. Garnish with cucumber twists and dill.
Cream Cheese Cucumber Dill Topping:
- Puree the cucumber in a food processor. Beat the cream cheese in a mixer with the paddle attachment until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in the cucumber, dill and salt. Put the topping in an airtight container and refrigerate 12 hours or up to overnight before serving.
Cook’s Note
To toast the walnuts, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange the walnuts on a sheet pan and bake for about 10 minutes.
