Orange Cupcakes with Macadamia Nut Crackle
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup cake flour
- 2/3 cup sifted cornstarch
- 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
- 6 large eggs, at room temperature, beaten
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
- Pinch of salt
- Macadamia Nut Crackle
- Orange Cream Cheese Icing
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan and keep warm over low heat.
- In a small bowl, whisk the flour with the cornstarch.
- In a large stainless steel bowl, whisk the sugar, eggs, vanilla, orange zest and salt.
- Set the bowl over a pot of barely simmering water and whisk the mixture constantly until warm to the touch.
- Remove from the heat.
- Using a handheld electric mixer, beat the mixture at high speed until pale, thick and tripled in volume, about 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle the dry ingredients on top and fold them into the batter.
- Pour the warm butter down the side of the bowl, letting it sink to the bottom.
- Working quickly, fold the butter into the batter until blended.
- Immediately spoon the batter into the muffin cups until three-quarters full.
- Bake the cupcakes for about 12 minutes, until light golden and springy to the touch.
- Let cool slightly in the pans, then transfer the cupcakes to racks to cool.
- Frost each cupcake with a scant 1 1/2 tablespoons of the Orange Cream Cheese Icing and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the Macadamia Nut Crackle.
unsalted butter, cake flour, cornstarch, sugar, eggs, vanilla, orange zest, salt, nut crackle, orange cream cheese
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/orange-cupcakes-macadamia-nut-crackle (may not work)