cake

Fruity Pebbles Cupcakes

June 10, 2021 By Ashley Leave a Comment

It wasn’t until I read Christina Tosi’s, Momofuku Milk Bar: A Cookbook, nearly a decade ago, that I learned about cereal milk. The idea of infusing milk with cereal is the perfect way to infuse familiar cereal flavors into baked goods. These Fruity Pebble Cupcakes are inspired by the cakes in that book, and also by my littlest, who came up with the idea of these cupcakes for her birthday. These Fruity Pebble cupcakes are tender, fluffy and moist, infused with Fruity Pebbles flavor, filled with strawberry jam and topped with light and fluffy whipped vanilla Fruity Pebbles buttercream.

Cereal Infused Milk

Steeping the milk used in both the cupcakes and the buttercream with the cereal will infuse the milk with all that familiar Fruity Pebbles flavor. Combine the cereal and the milk and let it sit for 45-60 minutes for the milk to absorb the flavor from the cereal. The milk will change to a light orange color. Pour the milk/cereal mixture into a sieve set over a measuring cup, and with the back of a spoon, press on the cereal left in the sieve to get as much of the cereal milk out as possible for optimal flavor.

How to make Fruity Pebbles cupcakes

These cupcakes are quick and easy to prepare. Room temperature ingredients are key to a perfect cupcake. The egg, egg white, oil and vanilla extract are combined together in bowl and whisked to mix. The dry ingredients – cake flour, sugar, baking powder and salt – are mixed together in the bowl of a stand mixer. Room temperature butter is mixed into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. The cereal milk is added just until the flour mixture is moistened, then the batter is whipped for a full 90 seconds. This aerates and stabilizes the batter for fluffy cupcakes.

The remaining milk is mixed in with the egg/oil mixture. The egg/oil mixture is added to the batter in two additions, scraping the bowl after each addition. Be sure to scrape the bowl when noted to make sure the ingredients are being thoroughly incorporated.

Whipped Fruity Pebble Buttercream

This whipped vanilla cereal milk buttercream is super light and creamy. Whipping the butter and the confectioner’s sugar first, then whipping the buttercream after the milk, vanilla and salt are added ensures a light and creamy frosting, rather than a dense and cloying frosting. Whipping the buttercream also makes it smooth and not grainy as some American style buttercream can be.

Assembling the Fruity Pebble Cupcakes

Once the cupcakes are completely cool, assemble the cupcakes. Using a small paring knife, at an angle, cut a cone out of the center of the cupcake, about halfway down the cupcake. Cut the cone off of the removed piece to make a lid that will sit on top of the filling. Fill the cupcakes with a heaping teaspoon of strawberry jam and place the lid on top. Alternatively, you can use a cupcake corer. This is the one I use.

Pipe or spread the filled cupcakes with buttercream. Sprinkle the top with some Fruity Pebbles cereal.

If you make these Fruity Pebble Cupcakes, let me know! Drop a comment or tag me on Instagram. I love seeing your creations.

Enjoy!

Ash xx

For more cupcake recipes, check out these posts:

Maple Bacon Blueberry French Toast Cupcakes

Funfetti Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Fudge Frosting

Caramel Apple Cupcakes

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Fruity Pebbles Cupcakes

These Fruity Pebble cupcakes are tender, fluffy and moist, infused with Fruity pebbles flavor, filled with strawberry jam and topped with light and fluffy vanilla Fruity Pebbles buttercream

Ingredients

Cereal Milk

2 cups whole milk
2 cups Fruity Pebbles cereal

Fruity Pebbles Cupcakes

1 ½ cups (175g) cake flour
3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup cereal milk
1 large egg white
1 large egg
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
1/3 cup strawberry jam

Fruity Pebbles Buttercream

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups + 2 tablespoons confectioner's sugar
2 tablespoons cereal milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
pinch of salt
1/4 cup Fruity Pebbles cereal

Instructions

Make the cupcakes:

Heat the oven to 350F. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners and set aside.
In a measuring cup, combine the egg, egg white, vanilla and oil. Whisk to combine.
In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt and mix on low speed for a minute to combine.
With the mixer still running, add in the softened butter pieces. Mix on low speed until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. You should be able to gather a bit in your hand, squeeze and you have a solid piece. This means the butter is evenly distributed.
With the mixer still on low, slowly pour in the milk, mixing JUST until the flour mixture is moistened. You will not use all the milk at this time. Pour the remaining milk into the bowl with the eggs and oil, and whisk to combine. Set aside.
Turn the mixer speed to medium and whip for a full 90 seconds. The mixture should be whipped up, thick, and lighter in color.
Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure everything is properly mixed.
With the mixer speed on low, add the egg/oil/remaining milk mixture in two additions, scraping down the bowl after each addition has been mixed in.
Once all the wet ingredients have been added, give the bowl a final scrape and mix with a spatula.
Bake the cupcakes for 17-20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with a crumb or two when inserted in the center of the cupcake. Don't over bake.
Place the baked cupcakes on wire racks to cool for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the hot cupcakes from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack.
Using a sharp knife, cut a hole into the center of the cooled cupcakes to create a space for the strawberry jam. The piece you removed will be the shape of a cone.
Spoon the strawberry jam inside each carved out cupcake. Fill the cupcake with the filling to the top, about a heaping teaspoon full. Slice off the pointy end of the cone piece you removed so that it can fit on top of the filling. Place on top of the filling.

Make the buttercream:

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip butter and confectioner's sugar for 6-8 minutes on medium speed until very light and fluffy.
Add in a pinch of salt, cereal milk and vanilla. Whip for another 5 minutes.
Pipe or spread the buttercream onto the cupcakes. Sprinkle Fruity Pebbles on top of each cupcake.

Blueberry Lemon Thyme Loaf Cake

June 8, 2021 By Ashley Leave a Comment

If you are a regular to my blog, it’s no secret that I love citrus bakes. This blueberry lemon thyme loaf cake is one of my favorites and is MUST bake. This lemon cake is tender, fluffy and velvety, packed with lemon flavor with hints of herby fresh thyme, filled with juicy, fresh blueberries and drizzled with a sweet and tangy lemon glaze. It’s so delicious, and so addictive – it’s hard to eat just one slice.

How to make blueberry lemon thyme loaf cake

It’s important to toss and coat the blueberries with a small amount of flour. This keeps them suspended in the cake so that they don’t sink to the bottom of the cake during baking.

Butter is beaten with sugar, lemon zest and thyme to get maximum flavor from the aromatics until light and fluffy. Beat for the full 5 minutes so that the texture has lightened color and appears lighter and fluffier in texture. Vanilla and eggs are beaten in, followed by adding in and alternating dry ingredients and milk.

The blueberry/flour mixture is folded into the better to keep them the berries intact and also to not deflate the batter. I baked this cake in an 8 1/2″ by 4 1/2″ loaf pan but you can use a 9 x 5 loaf pan if you have that on hand. Bake until the loaf comes out clean or with a few remaining dry crumbs and the top is golden brown.

The glaze

While the cake is cooling, prepare the glaze. Simply whisk together the confectioner’s sugar, fresh lemon juice, and heavy cream until thickened and thoroughly mixed. The heavy cream helps to thickened the glaze and give it more of a creamy texture. This glaze is creamy and tangy, packing in even more lemon flavor. Pour or drizzle the glaze over the cake while it is still warm.

If you make my blueberry lemon thyme loaf cake, let me know! Drop a comment or tag me on Instagram. I love seeing your creations.

Enjoy!

Ash xx

For more blueberry recipes, check out these posts:

Maple Bacon Blueberry French Toast Cupcakes

Blueberry Streusel Muffins

Triple Berry Crumb Pie

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Blueberry Lemon Thyme Loaf Cake

Tender and fluffy lemon loaf cake with a hint of herby hint of fresh thyme and juicy fresh blueberries and topped with a sweet tart lemon glaze, fresh blueberries and fresh thyme

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time1 hr

Course: Dessert

Servings: servings

Ingredients

Loaf Cake

1 cup fresh blueberries
1 tablespoon all purpose flour
1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon lemon zest
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon fresh thyme, finely chopped (optional)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 ⅔ cups all purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 cup milk, room temperature

Lemon Glaze:

1 cup confectioner's sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon heavy cream

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray a 8.5 x 4.5 or 9 x 5 pan with baking spray. Or, butter the pan, sprinkle with flour, and tap out the excess flour over the sink.
Combine the blueberries and 1 tablespoon of flour together in a small bowl. Toss to coat the blueberries with flour.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the 1 2/3 cups of flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar, lemon zest and thyme on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
Add the vanilla. Add the eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl after each one has been added.
With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the batter in the three additions, alternating with the milk in two additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix until just combined.
Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in the blueberries.
Pour the batter into the pan and bake 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick stuck in the loaf comes out with few dry crumbs.
Cool the loaf in the pan for 15 minutes on a cooling rack. Remove the loaf from the pan and place on the cooling rack to continue cooling.
In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioner's sugar, lemon juice and heavy cream until thickened and well combined.
Pour or drizzle the glazes over the warm (not hot) loaf cake. Top with extra blueberries and garnish with fresh thyme. Cool completely before slicing and serving.

Tres Leches Bundt Cake

May 17, 2021 By Ashley Leave a Comment

I should preface this post by telling you that this is not at all an authentic tres leches cake. And technically it’s a cuatro leches cake, but still, we’re calling it a tres leches bundt cake. I have named it as such due to the milk soak mixture and how it is served. But don’t let its inauthenticity discourage you from making it, because it is YUM. My tres leches cake is dense, rich, moist, and is so good.

What is Tres Leches Cake?

An authentic tres leches (or “three milks”) cake is a traditional Latin American dessert. It is a sponge cake typically made with little or no fat (no oil or butter), and is soaked in a combination of milks – evaporated milk, whole milk, sweetened condensed and heavy cream. The cake acts as sponge to absorb the milk mixture. It’s rich and sweet, spongy and light, moist but not soggy. It’s delicious.

What is different about this tres leches bundt cake?

Instead of a light and airy sponge cake, I decided to use a bundt cake. Soaking this dense and fine crumbed bundt cake in a milk mixture allows the cake to absorb the milks, making it sweeter, richer and more moist and flavorful. Top this bundt with whipped cream and fresh strawberries, and it’s like a strawberry shortcake cake.

How to make the cake

This is a pretty typical vanilla bundt cake batter. Butter and sugar are beaten until light and fluffy. Vanilla and eggs are added, followed by flour, baking powder and salt. The batter is thick and creamy. Make sure you adequately prepare you bundt cake pan, even if it is a non-stick pan. Spoon the batter into the bundt pan and use an offset spatula to even out the batter so that the cake bakes evenly.

Milk Soak Mixture

For my milk mixture, I used sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk. Just whisk the milks together and it’s ready to go. This mixture will be poured over the warm cake and absorbed. Both the bottom and the top of the cake are pierced with a skewer and drizzled with the milks for optimal absorption and flavor. Chill the cake to allow it time to absorb the milks. Once chilled top the cake with whipped cream and fresh strawberries.

Before serving the cake, drizzle some of the remaining milk mixture that is on the plate over the slices. Don’t skip this step. It’s so, so good.

If you make my Tres Leches bundt cake, let me know! Drop a comment or tag me on Instagram. I love seeing your creations.

Enjoy!

Ash xx

For more cake recipes, check out these posts:

Banana Cake with Salted Caramel and Peanut Butter Buttercream

Earl Grey Cake with Honey Buttercream and Blackberry Caramel

Strawberry Rose Buttermilk Cake

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4.67 from 3 votes

Tres Leches Bundt Cake

Prep Time30 mins

Cook Time1 hr

Chill Time3 hrs

Course: Dessert

Ingredients

The Bundt Cake:

1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 2/3 cup (264g) granulated sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup (227ml) whole milk, room temperature
4 large eggs, room temperature
3 cups (360g) all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

Milk Soak:

1 cup (226g) evaporated milk
1 can (397g) sweetened condensed milk

Topping:

1 cup (227ml) heavy cream, cold
1-2 tablespoons confectioner's sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 lb fresh strawberries

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350F and grease and flour the bundt cake pan. You can also use baking spray.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk to combine and set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the butter and sugar. Beat until light and fluffy, about 5-8 minutes, scraping the bowl occasionally.
Add the vanilla extract. Add the eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl after each addition.
With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients into the mixture in the three additions, alternating with the milk in two additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix until just combined.
Scape the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 40-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with few crumbs.
Cool the cake in the pan for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the soaking mixture.
In a measuring cup, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk. If the mixture is too thick, add more evaporated milk.
While the cake is still in the pan, pierce the cake all over with a thick skewer.
Pour 1/3-1/2 cup of the milk mixture over the cake, a little bit at a time, allowing the cake to absorb the liquid before adding more. Let the cake stand for 15 minutes.
Invert onto a cake plate (preferable with edges) and poke holes around the top of the cake. Drizzle with the remaining glaze. Cover and place in the fridge for a couple of hours or up to overnight.
Before serving, make the whipped cream. Place the bowl of a stand mixer and the whip attachment into the freezer for 10 minutes.
Pour the cream into the chilled bowl, and beat the cream, confectioner's sugar and vanilla on medium-high speed until medium peaks form, 3-5 minutes.
Add the confectioner's sugar and beat until stiff peaks form, 30 seconds.
Spoon the whipped cream onto the top of the cake. Place sliced fresh strawberries on top of the cake.
Slice and serve. Drizzle any glaze sitting on the plate over the cake slices.

How to Make Sugar Flower Petal Formers

May 13, 2021 By Ashley Leave a Comment

Petal formers are a necessary tool in order to give your gum paste or wafer flowers the proper petal shape for a specific flower. There are a variety of commercial petal formers out there but sometimes specific ones can be hard to find and they can be expensive. Especially when you need need a lot of petal formers for multiple flowers.

In this tutorial, I’m going to show you how to make 3 different types of sugar flower petal formers, how you can adapt them and what you can use each former for. These boards are easy to make, fairly inexpensive and the materials are easy to find at your local craft store or Amazon.

Spoon Petal Formers

This is a pretty common former already used in the sugar/wafer paper world. I have boards with both regular plastic spoons and also one with soup spoons. Typical spoons are more oblong and narrow, which work best with petals that are more narrow with a slight cupped shape. I like to use this type of spoon former for drying and shaping anemone petals, rose petals, lisianthus petals, alstroemeria petals and more.

Soup spoons are more rounded and deeper. Great for shaping rounder petals with a more prominent cupped shape. I like using these formers for drying and shaping ranunculus petals, inner gardenia petals, smaller peony petals, English rose petals and more. I find that I use this former more often than the spoon former.

Flower Formers — Spoon Board Petal Fomers

For the spoon boards, you will need: 9×12 piece 1/4″ foam board, cardboard, or fiberboard, a low heat hot glue gun, wire cutters and spoons and/or soup spoons. Cut the handles off of the spoons with the wire cutters. Discard the spoon handles. Place hot glue on the bottom center of the spoon and adhere to the foam core. Be sure to evenly space the spoons. Flip the foam board over and repeat with the soup spoons. You can adjust the formers on the board if you misplace one by gently sliding it in place while the glue is not set.

Foam Ball Petal Formers

I use foam ball formers quite often, mostly for larger cupped petals like magnolia petals, large peonies and English rose petals. You can easily use any size foam balls you would like, but I find that any petals that need to be dried and shaped under 2″, can usually be done on spoons or bumpy foam. It’s not as easy to find formers for much larger size cupped shapes – 2 1/2″, 2 3/4″ and 3″ so I find that smooth foam balls work perfectly.

This board can also be adapted to use egg shaped foam, which are good for making longer and more cupped petals such as tulip petals.

For the foam ball former board, you will need a piece of 1/4″ foam board (or cardboard or fiberboard) – I used 9×12, but you can definitely use a bigger board to add more foam balls or multiple sizes if you would like. You will also need smooth foam balls and low heat hot glue gun. Place a liberal amount of hot glue on the bottom of the foam ball and adhere to the board. Space the balls evenly on the board, leaving space in between for overhanging petals.

Optionally, you can cut the bottoms off of the ball to make it more sturdy against the board. The best way to do this is by using a foam cutter tool that essentially just melts through the foam. Just cut off 1/4″ off the bottom, then glue. Fast and no mess.

Acetate Formers

Think of this former as similar that of an apple tray former. These formers are larger with more shallow wells, perfect for drying and shaping poppy petals, peony petals, Japanese magnolias, orchids, and more. You can form the acetate to make shallow or deep cupped petal formers.

You can use either food safe acetate, usually found in rolls, or you can make these with thin, flexible cutting mats. You can get both of these on Amazon and you can also get the cutting mats at the dollar store.

For this board you will need a 1/4″ piece of foam board, cardboard, or fiberboard, a low heat hot glue gun, and scissors. Cut the acetate into 4″x4″ squares. You can round off the edges if you like ( like I did in the photos) or you can leave them as is.

Cut two cuts in the acetate about 1/2″ opposite each other for a shallow former, or 3/4″ for a deeper former. Place a small dab of glue on one side of the cut, crossing the other side to overlap onto the glue, pressing gently to adhere. Watch your fingers because the glue will be hot. Repeat with the other side of the acetate. Repeat the process with remaining 4″x4″ pieces of acetate.

Place glue on the bottom of the acetate cups and adhere them to the board. Alternatively, you can omit the board and just use them as they are. They’ll be a bit easier to store without the board as well.

If you make these sugar flower petal formers, let me know! Drop a comment or tag me on Instagram. Any questions, feel free to DM me or leave a comment below.

Ash xx

For more tutorials, check out these posts:

Gum Paste Blackberries, Leaves and Blossoms Tutorial

Floral Piped Royal Icing Cake Tutorial

Gum Paste Dogwood Branch Tutorial

Maple Bacon Blueberry French Toast Cupcakes

May 10, 2021 By Ashley 1 Comment

I am all about cake for breakfast. Even better is breakfast as cake. My maple bacon blueberry French toast cupcakes are the best flavors of breakfast. Filled with a jammy blueberry filling, these French toast cupcakes are lightly spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg and topped with sweet and buttery maple Swiss meringue buttercream, fresh blueberries and salty bacon crumbles. All that is missing is a cup of coffee. Eat them for breakfast. Eat them for dessert. They’re super yummy for anytime of the day.

French toast cupcake batter

In addition to the usual butter, milk, eggs that contribute to making French toast, these cupcakes are also lightly spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. The nutmeg is the secret to making these cupcakes taste like French toast. So, so good. This recipe uses the reverse creaming method (you can refer to this post for more info), which creates a soft and fluffy cupcake with a tight crumb.

Blueberry Filling

This blueberry filling is so good on so many things. When I make it, I almost always double it, so I can use it on pancakes or ice cream. You can use either fresh or frozen blueberries for this recipe. The blueberries are cooked down with a little bit of sugar and mashed to release the juices. The mixture is reduced and thickened. Lemon juice and cornstarch are combined to make a slurry that is whisked into the blueberry mixture to thicken it. Cool the mixture before filling the cupcakes.

Maple Swiss Meringue Buttercream

My maple buttercream is made using both maple syrup and sugar for the meringue base. I like to add a small amount of maple extract to get more of that pancake syrup flavor, but you can totally omit it. The maple syrup definitely shines in this buttercream. For a comprehensive guide on Swiss meringue buttercream, check out this post.

Assembling the French toast cupcakes

Once the cupcakes and blueberry filling are cooled completely, assemble the cupcakes. Using a small paring knife, at an angle, cut a cone out of the center of the cupcake, about halfway down the cupcake. Cut the cone off of the removed piece to make a lid that will sit on top of the filling. Fill the cupcakes with a heaping teaspoon of the blueberry filling and place the lid on top. Alternatively, you can use a cupcake corer. This is the one I use.

Pipe or frost the filled cupcakes with the maple Swiss meringue buttercream. Top with the crumbled bacon and fresh blueberries.

If you make these maple bacon blueberry French toast cupcakes, let me know! Drop a comment or tag me on Instagram. I love seeing your creations.

Enjoy!

Ash xx

For more cupcake recipes, check out these posts:

Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Funfetti Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Fudge Frosting

Black Forest Cupcakes

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5 from 1 vote

Maple Bacon Blueberry French Toast Cupcakes

Lightly spiced cinnamon and nutmeg French Toast cupcake filled with blueberry jam and topped with maple buttercream and crunchy bacon pieces.

Prep Time35 mins

Cook Time28 mins

Course: Dessert

Servings: cupcakes

Ingredients

French Toast Cupcakes

½ cup (119ml) whole milk, room temperature
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons canola oil
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1½ cups (175g) cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
⅛ teaspoon nutmeg

Blueberry Filling

1 ½ cups (255g) blueberries
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 ½ teaspoons cornstarch

Maple Buttercream

5-6 large (150g) egg whites
2/3 cup (100g) pure maple syrup
2/3 cup (132g) granulated sugar
1 ½ cups (170g) unsalted butter, room temperature
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
¼ – ½ teaspoon maple extract
4 slices thick cut bacon, cooked and finely chopped

Instructions

Make the blueberry filling.

In a saucepan, heat the blueberries and sugar over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
.Mash the blueberries with the back of a wooden spoon to release the juices.
Reduce the heat just enough to keep the mixture at a simmer and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the blueberry juices begin to reduce and concentrate, about 8 minutes.
In a small bowl, make a slurry by combining the lemon juice and the cornstarch.
Remove the blueberries from the heat and whisk the slurry mixture into the blueberry mixture. Stir constantly until the mixture thickens.
Cool the blueberry filling to room temperature before using.

Make the French Toast cupcakes.

Heat the oven to 350F. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners and set aside.
In a measuring cup, combine the egg, egg white, vanilla and oil. Whisk to combine.
In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the cake flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg and mix on low speed for a minute to combine.
With the mixer still running, add in the softened butter pieces. Mix on low speed until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. You should be able to gather a bit in your hand, squeeze and you have a solid piece. This means the butter is evenly distributed.
With the mixer still on low, slowly pour in the milk, mixing JUST until the flour mixture is moistened. You will not use all the milk at this time. Pour the remaining milk into the bowl with the eggs and oil, and whisk to combine. Set aside.
Turn the mixer speed to medium and whip for a full 90 seconds. The mixture should be whipped up, thick, and lighter in color.
Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure everything is properly mixed.
With the mixer speed on low, add the egg/oil/remaining milk mixture in two additions, scraping down the bowl after each addition has been mixed in.
Once all the wet ingredients have been added, give the bowl a final scrape and mix with a spatula.
Bake the cupcakes for 17-20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with a crumb or two when inserted in the center of the cupcake. Don't over bake.
Place the baked cupcakes on wire racks to cool for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the hot cupcakes from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack.
Using a sharp knife, cut a hole into the center of the cooled cupcakes to create a space for the blueberry filling. The piece you removed will be the shape of a cone.
Spoon the blueberry mixture inside each carved out cupcake. Fill the cupcake with the filling to the top, about a heaping teaspoon full. Slice off the pointy end of the cone piece you removed so that it can fit on top of the filling. Place on top of the filling.

Make the Maple Buttercream.

Weigh out egg whites, maple syrup, and granulated sugar together in a non-reactive bowl.
Clip a candy thermometer onto the side of the bowl and place over a pot of simmering (not boiling) water, whisking constantly and gently until temperature of the egg/sugar mixture reaches 160F.
Using a sieve, strain the egg white/sugar mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer.
Mix on medium speed with the whisk attachment until the mixture is glossy, reaches stiff peaks and the outside of the bowl is no longer warm. You cannot add butter to the bowl if it is warm or the butter will just melt when added.
Once the mixture reaches stiff peaks, switch out the whisk attachment for the paddle attachment and begin mixing on low speed.
Add the softened butter cubes, a couple at a time, until incorporated.
Let the buttercream mix. It might curdle or look lumpy but that’s ok. Keep mixing. This could take some time.
Keep mixing on low and add the salt, vanilla and maple extract, if using. Mix until everything is fully incorporated. The buttercream is ready when it is smooth, satiny and creamy.
Top the cupcakes with maple buttercream and top with a bacon bits and fresh blueberries.

Notes

The blueberry filling can be kept in the fridge for up to a week.

Cupcakes are best eaten the day they are made, but will keep for up to 2 days stored in an airtight container.

Buttercream can be kept at room temperature for up to 2 days, refrigerated for up to a week and frozen for up to 3 months.

Mimosa Madeleines

April 20, 2021 By Ashley Leave a Comment

Today I am sharing with you one of my favorite French desserts – madeleines. More specifically, mimosa madeleines flavored with orange zest and coated with a champagne glaze. So, so good and so hard to eat just one.

What are madeleines?

Known for their scalloped sea shell shape on one side and a pronounced hump on the other, madeleines are buttery, light, and spongey cakes that are typically glazed or dusted with confectioners’ sugar. Oftentimes they are called cookies, mostly due to their size and shape, but they are tiny genoise cakes. I feel like they fall somewhere in between, so call them what you will.

Madeleines are baked in a unique scalloped pan made specifically for these cakes. Luckily madeleine pans are fairly inexpensive, and are worth the purchase if you like madeleines. Once you make these delicious little cakes, you will want to keep making them, in a variety of flavors. This is the pan I use.

Tips for madeleine success

Eggs and milk must be room temperature. If these ingredients are too cold, the mixture will not emulsify, and likely split.
Beating the eggs and sugar on high for 6-8 minutes help give the cakes their height and texture. The mixture will be thick and pale. Skimping on this step results in flat, dense cakes.
The batter has to rest. I know, I know. Waiting is no fun. But, you can make the batter in advance and keep it refrigerated overnight. I like to make the batter the night before then bake them off in the morning.
Buttering the pan ensures that the madeleines don’t stick. You should prep the pan even if you have a non-stick pan. You can lightly flour the wells if you wish, but I don’t find it necessary. You can also use non-stick baking spray.
Fill the wells 3/4 of the way full. It doesn’t have to be exact, just eyeball it. Keep in mind that they will spread out and rise, so just plop the batter into the center of the well.
Madeleines are best eaten the day they are made, and while they’re slightly warm. They do start to loose their moisture over the day, so it’s best to bake them off as you need them. If you must store them, store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

The process of making mimosa madeleines

Melt the butter 8-10 minutes before you make your madeleines so that it has time to cool. Combine the room temperature eggs and sugar and whisk on high speed for 6-8 minutes, until the mixture is pale and thickened. When the whisk is raised, the mixture should ribbon back into the bowl.

Meanwhile, combine the orange zest, flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl and whisk to combine. Add the milk and vanilla to the cooled melted butter, and whisk into the egg mixture. Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in half of the flour mixture, then fold in the remaining half. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour or up to overnight. Resting the batter in the fridge results in fluffier madeleines.

When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350F. Use a pastry brush to brush melted butter into the wells to keep the batter from sticking, but also to help give the madeleines their crisp and buttery edges. You can flour the wells as well if you are worried about sticking.

The chilled batter will be spongy and thickened. Do not deflate. Fill the wells about 3/4 full, about a heaped tablespoon full, keeping in mind the madeleines will spread and rise. Bake 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out with few crumbs. Turn the madeleines out of the pan, tapping on the counter to release the cakes. Place them on a cooling rack.

Meanwhile, make the glaze by whisking the confectioners’ sugar and champagne until smooth and thickened. As soon as the madeleines are cool enough to handle, dip the cakes into the glaze, both sides, scraping the excess off on the bowl. Rest the madeleines on a cooling rack to dry, scalloped side up. Enjoy your mimosa madeleines with a cup of Earl Grey or coffee.

If you make these mimosa madeleines, let me know! Drop a comment or tag me on Instagram. I love seeing your creations.

Enjoy!

Ash xx

For more citrus recipes, check out these posts:

Lavender Lemon Shortbread Bars

Meyer Lemon Ginger Tart with Toasted Honey Meringue

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Mimosa Madeleines

Light and airy orange French madeleines dipped in champagne glaze

Prep Time12 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Rest time2 hrs

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: French

Equipment

Madeleine pan
Pastry brush

Ingredients

3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
14 tablespoons (200g) unsalted butter (plus 2 additional tablespoons for the pan)
1/4 cup (60ml) whole milk, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 ¼ cups (200g) all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons orange zest
1 cup (114g) confectioners sugar
2-3 tablespoons champagne

Instructions

Melt the butter (14 tablespoons) and set aside to slightly cool as you prepare the rest of the batter.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder and orange zest and set aside.
In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the eggs and sugar together on high speed for at least 8 minutes. The mixture will be thick, pale, and form ribbons when you lift the whisk.
Whisk in the melted, cooled butter.
Add the milk and vanilla extract.
Remove the bowl from the stand mixer. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, gently fold the flour mixture into the egg mixture. Folding in half of the flour mixture, then fold in the other half.
Cover the batter and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour, or up overnight.
During the last few minutes of chilling, preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the pan with melted butter.
The batter will be quite airy and spongey after resting. Don't deflate it. Fill each scalloped well with batter, about 3/4 full. No need to spread it to the edges. These will rise. Just place the batter in the center. Cover and refrigerate remaining batter if you do not have 2 madeleine pans to bake the batter all at once.
Bake for 10-12 minutes. The madeleines are done when the tops spring back after lightly pressed with your finger. Invert the pan onto the counter, tapping to release the madeleines. Transfer the madeleines to a wire rack to cool.
While the madeleines are cooling, prepare the glaze. Combine the confectioners' sugar and champagne in a bowl. Whisk until smooth and thickened slightly.
When the madeleines cool enough to handle, dip each cake in the glaze, turning them over to make sure both sides are coated and scrape off any excess on the side of the bowl. After dipping, rest each one back on the cooking rack, scalloped side up, until the cakes are cool and the glaze has firmed up.

Notes

Madeleines are best eaten on the day they’re made. They start to lose their texture and moisture the following day. If you must store them, keep them stored at room temperature in an airtight container up to 3 days.

The Ultimate Guide to White Chocolate Ganache

April 16, 2021 By Ashley Leave a Comment

Welcome to the last installment of my ultimate guide to ganache series – all about white chocolate ganache. I looooove using white chocolate ganache. It is my favorite alternative for those who don’t like fondant. It’s creamy, delicious and serves as the perfect, smooth, blank canvas on a cake.

White chocolate is getting its own separate post because it can behave a bit differently from semi/dark chocolate ganache. It can seize or split easier, and melting white chocolate can sometimes be a challenge. Timing and ratio are key to white chocolate ganache. Gone are the days of troublesome ganache. With these tips and tricks, making a smooth and creamy white chocolate ganache will be a breeze.

How is white chocolate different from other chocolate?

White chocolate, compared to dark and milk chocolates, do not have any cocoa solids. It also has more sugar, more milk solids, less cocoa butter and can burn or seize easier than dark chocolate. But don’t let that dissuade you from making it. Choosing the right chocolate, heating it slowly and mixing it properly are key to a smooth and creamy ganache.

Really, the most important factor of determining the right white chocolate for ganache is the quality of the chocolate. As with dark chocolate, the quality of white chocolate makes a huge difference in the final ganache. Quality determines the taste and texture, especially in white chocolate which can range from chalky and cloyingly sweet to smooth and milky, which is why chips or coating chocolate can be a bit of a gamble. But, you can make ganache with them.

How to make white chocolate ganache

White chocolate ganache ratio: 3:1 or 12oz white chocolate to 4oz cream

Weigh or measure the chocolate and place in a bowl. Chop the pieces finely if you are using chocolate bars. Microwave for 45-60 seconds to soften the chocolate.

Place the cream in a saucepan and place on the stove over medium low heat.

Heat the cream until it starts to steam along the top. Keep a close eye on the cream making sure the cream doesn’t scald or curdle.

Once heated, pour the cream over the warmed chocolate. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes.

With a spatula or a whisk, begin gently stirring the mixture starting in the center to blend, and working outward. This creates a smooth emulsion and prevents air from being incorporated. Too much air can cause the mixture to split.

You can use the ganache immediately or set it aside to cool to the desired consistency. Be sure not to agitate the chocolate while it is setting, which can cause it to split.

Let it set at room temperature. Place plastic wrap onto the surface of the ganache so that it doesn’t form a film.

The ganache is ready for drips at 85-90F and ready for filling or icing a cake when the texture is thickened and smooth, resembling peanut butter or canned frosting.

Whitening Ganache

Surprise! White chocolate ganache is often enough not white. Color does depend on the brand and varies, but with real white chocolate, to get a true white, you will have to color it. Candy melts and almond bark tend to be more white and less translucent.

You can whiten your ganache by adding white gel color in the cream before mixing it into the chocolate or mixing in the color after incorporating the cream. Alternatively, you can color it once it is ready to use.

Whipped ganache is a fantastic cupcake frosting. Beating the cooled ganache in a stand mixer until fluffy and thickened is also a way to whitening ganache and making a lighter frosting.

How to color white chocolate ganache

Traditionally, adding water based anything to chocolate spells disaster. Since ganache is an emulsion, you can add a concentrated gel color to the ganache. I like to whiten the ganache first. This is to make sure the color I am adding to the ganache isn’t altered by the ganache’s yellowish/translucent hue.

Even though you can totally use gel color in ganache, if I’m making red, navy, or even black (when possible use dark chocolate ganache for black – MUCH easier), I like to use oil/chocolate colors because these colors require a lot more color added to the ganache. The oil/chocolate colors can darken the ganache faster with less color.

Uses for white chocolate ganache

Drip cakes
Glazes for donuts, eclairs, cupcakes and more
Ice cream topping
Cake or cupcake filling
Topping brownies
Dipping cookies
Macaron filling
Whipped chocolate ganache frosting
Truffles
Frosting cakes
Dipping fruit

White Chocolate Ganache and Cake Decorating

Ganache is ideal for frosting cakes. It’s airless and super smooth, creating an smooth and flawless cake covering. It’s also one of the best cake frostings to use if you’re making a fondant cake. Ganache holds its shape better, and sets up more quickly than buttercream, allowing you to keep smooth and crisp ganache edges when covering with fondant.

Ganache also has a higher melting point than buttercream, which means that on warmer days, buttercream would melt faster than ganache. For those people who don’t like fondant, white chocolate ganache can give you that same white, flawless finish that fondant does.

Another perk of using ganache on layer cakes, is that you typically don’t get any bulging or blowouts as long as you’re allowing your cake to settle after filling and layering it and you’re not trapping any air under your fondant. You also want the ganache to be fully set before covering fondant.

Flavor variations

I love infusing flavors into white chocolate ganache, especially fruit reductions. But here are some ideas on what you can infuse or add to your ganache.

Jams and fruit reductions

Teas

Zests

Mint/Herbs

Extracts

Salted Caramel/Nut Butters

Alcohol

Coffee

Sprinkles

For more information on ganache and troubleshooting, check out my Ultimate Guide to Ganache posts listed below. If you make white chocolate ganache, let me know! Drop a comment or tag me on Instagram. I love seeing your creations.

Enjoy!

Ash xx

For more on ganache, check out these posts:

The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate Ganache Part 1

The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate Ganache Part 2

Chocolate Stout Layer Cake with Coffee Irish Cream Buttercream

Under the Sea Cake Tutorial

The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate Ganache: Part 2

April 11, 2021 By Ashley Leave a Comment

In the Ultimate Guide to Chocolate Ganache part 1, I explained what ganache is and how temperature and ratio determines consistency and usage of the ganache. In this continuation post, I will go over how to make ganache as well as how to flavor ganache and troubleshoot any problems.

Ganache Amounts:

Bittersweet/Semi-Sweet Ganache:

1:1 – 10oz chocolate/10oz heavy cream

2:1 – 10oz chocolate/5oz heavy cream

1:2 – 8oz chocolate/16oz heavy cream

Milk Chocolate:

3:1 – 12 oz chocolate/4oz heavy cream

How to make ganache

Weigh or measure the chocolate and place in a bowl. Chop the pieces finely if you are using chocolate bars. Microwave for 30-45 seconds to soften the chocolate.

Place the cream in a saucepan and place on the stove over medium low heat.

Heat the cream until it starts to steam along the top. Keep a close eye on the cream making sure the cream doesn’t scald or curdle.

Once heated, pour the cream over the warmed chocolate. Let the mixture sit 3 or 4 minutes.

*Add ins: Adding a tablespoon of butter or corn syrup will give your ganache more shine, which is helpful especially when using for a drip or glaze. Corn syrup also gives the ganache a little bit of elasticity. Adding a pinch of salt to the chocolate before the cream is added gives the ganache a bit of flavor and breaks up the sweetness into identifiable flavors.*

With a spatula or a whisk, begin gently stirring the mixture starting in the center, and working outward. This creates a smooth emulsion and prevents air from being incorporated. Too much air can cause the mixture to split.

You can use the ganache immediately or set it aside to cool to the desired consistency.

Ganache and cake decorating

Ganache is ideal for frosting cakes. It’s airless and super smooth, creating an ideal and flawless cake covering. It’s also the best cake frosting to use if you’re making a fondant cake. Ganache holds it shape better, and sets up more quickly than buttercream, allowing you to keep smooth and crisp ganache edges when covering with fondant.

Ganache also has a higher melting point than buttercream, which means that on hotter days, buttercream would melt faster than ganache.

Chocolate ganache is also a good starting point for a true black frosting. Adding black color to the ganache allows you to use less food color, but also it’s easier to achieve a true black. Coloring buttercream uses far more gel color and can also leave an aftertaste.

Common Ganache Questions

Can I reheat or reuse ganache?

Most definitely. I almost always make ganache in advance and store in the refrigerator for a day or two before using it. I microwave ganache in short 5 second bursts, gently stirring after each to gradually bring the ganache to temperature, but also to achieve the desired texture. Refrigerating and reheating repeatedly can cause the ganache to lose its shine. But, it’ll still taste amazing.

How do you store ganache?

Due to the higher sugar amount, ganache can be stored at room temperature for up to 48 hours. You can also refrigerate ganache for up to 2-3 weeks, and freeze ganache for up to 3 months. Note that frozen ganache will typically loose it’s shine and glossy appearance when brought to room temperature.

What about white chocolate ganache?

See my Ultimate Guide to White Chocolate Ganache.

Can I refrigerate my ganached cake?

Absolutely. But, you don’t have to. The ganache *can*crack if the cake gets too cold. And while the topic of freezing ganache covered cakes is highly debatable, I do not recommend freezing a ganached cake because of this reason.

How do I attach fondant to my ganached cake?

When ganache is set on a cake, it sets firm and dry. You can adhere fondant to the ganache by brushing on a thin layer of sugar syrup, corn syrup, alcohol or vegetable shortening.

How do I color my chocolate ganache black?

There are a couple ways to darken ganache. Keep in mind, it only takes a small amount of black color to achieve black ganache.

You can add black chocolate/oil based color OR black gel color to your ganache until you achieve your desired color. It’s typically true that adding to water will cause chocolate to seize, but since ganache is an emulsion, you can use gel color.
You can add black gel color to the cream mixture before pouring over the chocolate.

Troubleshooting Ganache

Why is my ganache grainy?

If your ganache is grainy and poor quality chocolate isn’t the culprit, place the bowl of ganache over a double broiler, and slowly reheat the mixture, stirring until the mixture is smooth no longer grainy. If the ganache is greasy, too much air could have been incorporated while mixing. Additionally, use a glass bowl. Ganache is shinier and smoother when using glass compared to plastic. No idea why, it just is. Science.

Additionally, if you’re reheating the ganache, any graininess is just uneven melting. Just keep stirring and gently heat to even out the texture.

My ganache is lumpy after mixing in the cream?

Likely, your chocolate isn’t melted enough. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring gently after, until the ganache is smooth and melted.

I made my ganache too liquidy? How can I fix it?

For ganache that is too thin and won’t set, reheat it and add a small amount of chopped chocolate at a time, heating it thoroughly until thickened.

For ganache that is too stiff, add additional warmed cream, a tablespoon at time to thin it out.

My ganache split and is greasy. Can I fix it?

Be sure to not overheat your chocolate, as well as taking care to not overheat the cream. Chocolate that gets too hot can cause the fats to separate causing a split and greasy chocolate mess.

It’s very easy to overheat chocolate in the microwave. Microwave in short increments to avoid overheating.

Flavor Variations

Ganache is chocolate and chocolate will be the dominant flavor, but infusing flavor into ganache gives you loads of options for pairing with different cakes and fillings.

Mint and fresh herbs

Salted Caramel

Flaky salt

Extracts

Espresso

Earl Grey/teas

Zests

Cookie Butter

Peanut Butter

Nutella

Alcohol

Spices

If you make ganache, let me know! Drop a comment or tag me on Instagram. I love seeing your creations.

Enjoy!

Ash xx

For more on ganache, check out these posts:

The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate Ganache Part 1

Chocolate Stout Layer Cake with Coffee Irish Cream Buttercream

Under the Sea Cake Tutorial

The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate Ganache: Part 1

April 11, 2021 By Ashley Leave a Comment

Chocolate ganache. Multi-functional, very delicious, and super easy, requiring only 2 ingredients – cream and chocolate. Ganache can be infused with different flavors and can be used for glazes, fillings, truffles, or even frosting cakes. With it rich, creamy and velvety texture, ganache is perfect for elevating any dessert and making beautiful cakes.

What is chocolate ganache?

Ganache is an emulsion consisting of chocolate and warmed cream to make a creamy, shiny and smooth mixture with various uses. The ratio of chocolate to cream determines how thick the ganache is and what it can be used for. The temperature of ganache also determines how it can be used. Warmed, it can be used for drips or glazes, cooled and set, it can be used as a cake filling, frosting or even chocolate truffles.

Uses for chocolate ganache

Drip cakes
Glazes for donuts, eclairs, cupcakes and more
Ice cream topping
Cake or cupcake filling
Topping brownies
Dipping cookies
Chocolate mousse
Whipped chocolate ganache frosting
Truffles
Frosting cakes
Dipping fruit

The importance of chocolate quality

When possible, choose chocolate bars rather than chips. Chocolate chips are made to retain their shape when baking. They do melt, as you can see when you eat a warm cookie, but they are made with less cocoa butter so the chips remain somewhat intact. This *can* make for a grainy, somewhat thicker and dull ganache. However, that’s not to say that you can’t use any chips. I prefer to use a higher quality chocolate chip. One that has a higher percentage of chocolate and cocoa butter, such as Ghirardelli 60%, or Guittard Extra Dark. For milk chocolate, I prefer to use chocolate bars only. It’s not as easy to melt milk chocolate chips, which can result in burning them or they can seize. I find that they make a clumpy, grainy ganache, but feel free to experiment to find your preference and what brands work best for you. My favorite bar chocolates are Callebaut and Guittard. Ghirardelli or Lindt are good alternatives that can be found in most grocery stores.

Chocolate to cream ratios

Depending on the ratio of heavy cream to chocolate depends on the consistency of the ganache is and how you can use it. The temperature of the ganache determines when you can use it. Freshly made ganache can be used for drips and glazes. Nearly set ganache, can be used for fillings, and firmer, cold ganache can be used for truffles. But all ganache will be thinner when just made, and set and harden more as it cools.

Semi/Bittersweet chocolate Ratios:

2:1 – 2 parts chocolate, to 1 part cream (by weight) creates a thicker, fudge-like ganache that when lukewarm can be used for drips, or when set to peanut butter consistency, can be used for cake fillings, topping brownies and frosting a cake. When the ganache is chilled or hardened a bit, you can use this ganache to make truffles. This is my preferred ratio for frosting a cake.

1:1 – 1 part chocolate to 1 part cream (by weight) creates a thinner ganache that can be used for glazes, drips and when cooled a bit, can be whipped to make a whipped chocolate ganache frosting or a mousse. You can also use this ratio for a cake or cupcake filling, but it will be a little bit softer.

1:2: 1 part chocolate to 2 parts cream (by weight) makes a thin, pourable ganache that can also be used as a glaze, or as an ice cream topping. You can also use this ganache for dipping fruit, or fondue as well as making hot chocolate.

Milk Chocolate Ratio:

Milk chocolate requires less cream than dark/bittersweet because it has a higher percentage of milk solids, less cocoa butter and has more sugar in it which allows it to stay liquid when heated.

3:1 – 3 parts chocolate cream to 1 part heavy cream (by weight) will make a thicker ganache like the bittersweet 1:2 ratio. You can also do 2.5oz of chocolate for a softer ganache.

Head on over to The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate Ganache part 2 to learn how to make ganache, how to flavor it, and how to troubleshoot any ganache issues.

Enjoy!

Ash xx

For more on ganache, check out these posts:

The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate Ganache Part 2

Chocolate Stout Layer Cake with Coffee Irish Cream Buttercream

Under the Sea Cake Tutorial

Banana Cake with Salted Caramel and Peanut Butter Buttercream

March 23, 2021 By Ashley Leave a Comment

It’s been quite long while since I’ve posted a new recipe. I took a long break at the beginning of the year to catch up with life, home renovations (still really behind on those) and for a much needed mental health break. Feeling great and super excited to get back into sharing all the things with you! Today I’m sharing one of my favorite cake recipes, and one that my girls go crazy for. My banana cake with salted caramel and peanut butter buttercream. This cake is just the perfect comfort food.

Banana Cake

If you love banana bread, you will LOVE this banana cake recipe. It’s so satisfying to bake a cake that is super simple to make, bakes up beautifully, stays incredibly moist and tastes like a dream. Even better, this cake tastes even more amazing after a couple days. Yes, a couple of days. Looking at you busy moms/dads and bakery owners.

This cake recipe makes a lot of batter. You can bake 3 taller 8″ or 9″ round cakes or you can bake these in two 8″ or 9″ cake pans that are 3″ tall, and torte them. I have baked these in 2″ tall 8″ pans that have been collared with parchment paper.

Banana Cake with Salted Caramel and Peanut Butter Buttercream

How to make banana cake

This banana cake is simple and quick to make. Whisk together the dry ingredients – all purpose flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, finely mash the bananas. Butter and sugar are creamed together until light and fluffy. Make sure the mixture is really light and fluffy. This helps make the banana cake light and not so heavy, which some banana cakes are prone to be.

Eggs and vanilla are added followed by alternating the flour mixture and the sour cream. Scrape the bowl often to make sure everything is being mixed and incorporated properly. The mashed bananas are beat in until just combined. The cakes will bake up tall, even and gorgeous, and your house will smell absolutely amazing. So, so good.

Salted caramel

All components of this cake can be made in advance, and salted caramel is always great baking staple to have on hand. A few tips for salted caramel success:

Be sure to not stir the caramel while the caramel is cooking.

Keep a close eye on the caramel while it’s cooking. It can go from amber to burnt quickly.

The caramel will thicken as it sits in the refrigerator. If you want it even thicker, reduce the cream to 1/3 cup (76g).

Salted caramel can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Peanut butter buttercream

Peanut butter buttercream is silky, smooth, sweet, salty and crazy delicious. We could not stop eating it off a spoon. I used my go to Swiss meringue buttercream recipe and added 1 1/4 cups of creamy peanut butter. If you find that your buttercream is a bit too soft after adding the peanut butter, pop in the fridge for 10-15 minutes, then mix again on low speed.

Assembly

This banana cake recipe is designed to bake up pretty flat with no domes, so there shouldn’t be a lot of trimming to be done with your cakes. If your cake does dome a bit, trim the tops with a serrated knife. To assemble, fit a piping bag with a large round tip ( I use an Ateco 808), and fill with peanut butter buttercream. Place one cake layer on a cake board or cake stand. Spread a thin layer of buttercream over the cake. Pipe a dam around the edge of the cake to prevent the salted caramel from spilling over the sides of the cake. Pipe buttercream over the salted caramel, creating a 1/4″ layer of buttercream. Add the second cake layer and repeat with the salted caramel and buttercream. Place the third and final layer on top, and frost the outside and top of the cake. Decorate with roasted, salted peanuts and salted caramel drizzle.

If you make this banana cake with salted caramel and peanut butter buttercream, let me know! Drop a comment or tag me on Instagram. I love seeing your creations.

Enjoy!

Ash xx

For more layer cake recipes, check out these posts:

Earl Grey Cake with Honey Buttercream and Blackberry Caramel

Strawberry Rose Buttermilk Cake

Chocolate Stout Cake with Coffee Irish Cream Buttercream

Banana Cake with Salted Caramel and PB Buttercream

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Banana Cake with Salted Caramel and Peanut Butter Buttercream

Moist, fluffy and full of flavor banana cake layered with salted caramel and creamy peanut butter Swiss meringue buttercream, topped with salted caramel and salted, roasted peanuts.

Prep Time1 hr

Cook Time45 mins

Course: Dessert

Servings: 8″ or 9″ cake layers

Ingredients

Banana Cake

3 1/4 cups (390g) all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups (396g) granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup (227g) sour cream
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
6 medium bananas

Salted Caramel

1 cup (198g) granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup (114g) heavy cream, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

Peanut Butter Swiss Meringue Buttercream

1 batch Swiss meringue buttercream
1 – 1¼ cups (270-338g) creamy peanut butter
Salted, roasted peanuts, finely chopped

Instructions

Make the banana cake layers

Preheat the oven to 350F. Prepare your cake pans. Brush the bottoms and sides of your cake pans with melted butter. Line the bottoms and sides with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, finely mash the bananas and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt and whisk to combine.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the butter and sugar and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5-7 minutes.
Add the eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl after each addition. Beat in the vanilla.
Add in the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the sour cream, stopping to scrape the bowl after each addition.
Add the bananas and beat until just combined.
Divide the batter into the prepared baking pans. Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few cooked crumbs. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
Run a palette or butter knife around the cakes in their pans before turning them out to cool completely on cooling racks.
Wrap the cooled cakes in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator a couple hours to firm up.

Make the salted caramel

In a medium sized saucepan, combine the sugar and the water. Swirl the pan to moisten the sugar.
Place the saucepan over medium heat. Let the sugar mixture cook, without stirring, until the sugar mixture turns a rich amber color. Take the mixture off the heat to stop the cooking process.
Add the butter to the saucepan and whisk to combine. Be very careful as the mixture is incredibly hot and will bubble up and steam when the butter is added.
Whisk in the heavy cream, followed by the vanilla and the salt until smooth.
Let the caramel cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a glass jar to cool completely.

Make the peanut butter buttercream

Mix the peanut butter into the prepared Swiss meringue buttercream. Add 1/2 cup/4oz at a time, to ensure the peanut butter gets thoroughly mixed into the buttercream.

Assemble the cake

Work with chilled cake layers. Using a serrated knife, cut off the domes (if any) of the cake.
Fit a piping bag with a large round tip ( I use an Ateco 808), and fill with peanut butter buttercream.
Put one of the cake layers, cut side up onto an 8" cake board or directly onto a cake stand.
Spread a thin, even layer of the buttercream on the cake layer with an offset spatula.
Pipe a dam around the edge of the cake to prevent the salted caramel from spilling over the sides of the cake.
Pipe buttercream over the salted caramel, creating a 1/4" layer of buttercream.
Add the second cake layer and repeat with the salted caramel and buttercream. Place the third and final layer on top, and frost the outside and top of the cake.
Decorate with roasted, salted peanuts and salted caramel drizzle.