Monday, June 22, 2009

Vanilla cream cupcakes... and a bit of soccer

Vanilla cream cupcakes / Cupcakes com geléia e creme

When the Brazilian soccer team lost the World Cup to France in 1998 I was so shocked I made a promise: I would never cheer for the team again (because the whole thing looked like a huge set up involving $$$). I’m a soccer freak – love the sport – and even though it was a bit hard I was able to keep my promise. At least until yesterday – I could not resist watching Brazil x Italy, the greatest soccer classic ever. I felt that old flame back again: the team played beautifully and scored 3 goals – it was an amazing game.

I might no longer be able to keep the soccer promise, but will honor the one I made here a couple of weeks ago: more cupcakes!

Vanilla cream cupcakes / Cupcakes com geléia e creme

Vanilla cream cupcakes
from Donna Hay magazine

125g unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup + 1 tablespoon (162g) caster sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 cup + 4 tablespoons (180g) all purpose flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder, sifted
½ cup (120ml) milk, room temperature

Vanilla cream:
½ cup (120ml) heavy cream
1 tablespoon icing sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup strawberry jam

Preheat the oven to 160ºC/320ºF. Place the butter, sugar and vanilla extract in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat for 10-12 minutes or until light and creamy. Gradually add the eggs and beat well. Add the flour, baking powder and milk and beat until just combined. Spoon into twelve ½ cup-capacity muffin pans lined with cupcake papers. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer. Cool completely on wire racks.
To make the vanilla cream, place the cream, icing sugar and vanilla in a bowl and whisk until stiff peaks form. Cut a small, round hole in the middle of each cupcake and remove the top; fill the holes with the jam and top with about 1 rounded teaspoon of cream. Place the lids by the side of each cream mound and serve.

Makes 12 – I halved the recipe, used 1/3-cup capacity muffin pans and got 6 cupcakes

Vanilla cream cupcakes / Cupcakes com geléia e creme

21 comments:

Manggy said...

I did not know that about you! But maybe I should have guessed? Ha ha ha! :) Love the cupcakes (fairy cakes?). Strawberries and cream is such a classic pairing!

Christine said...

The cupcakes sound yummy :-)

Oh I know about those soccer stuff... Same here.
I was glad that Italy lost! *gg*

Aimée said...

Agghh, I NEED cupcakes after seeing these. Will they ship?? It's questionable with that yummy center.

gine said...

mmmm ... those cupcakes look lovely ^^ .. but oh my god what did Italy do yesterday ;-)? congratulations ^^!

Jennifer said...

WOW I love these!!! The flavor combo!! YUM!! Great pictures!

eatme_delicious said...

What cute little cupcakes! I love the cream and jam on top and how the lid is put back on.

anna said...

Oh, those are adorable! Now I'm craving strawberries!

Parita said...

Oh these look so cute! love the vanilla and strawberry combination!

3di15 said...

May the best team win and honor to the winners! You definitely deserved that victory... may I have a cupcake now?? :P

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

Ted and I watched the match, too. It was a beautiful thing. Usually I don't have the patience for more than a few minutes, but this time I hung in from beginning to end. (Wish I'd had some cupcakes to nibble...)

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

How darling! you love your Donna Hay don't you? I visited her store in Sydney-her first store. Look out for a story on it next week. It's full of cute things ;)

Deborah said...

What beautiful cupcakes!

Deeba PAB said...

A feast for the eyes Patricia...just gorgeous. Love the pairing as much as I love soccer=lots!!!

Abby said...

I love that they're filled with strawberry jam. I have so much homemade jam that I need to use up it's ridiculous.

ChichaJo said...

You won't believe this! I was just looking at this recipe and the whole DH cupcake story today in that very issue (picked at random from my DH shelf!)! And now here it is looking just as lovely! Gotta try this soon :)

I don't know much about soccer but my hubby is a rabid fan! When the World Cup shows we trek to a pub at 2am to watch the games :)

Patricia Scarpin said...

Mark, maybe?? :D
These are so tender they would go well even without the toppings.
Thank you!

Christine, tks for visiting!
I was glad about that, too, despite my Italian grandfather. :D

Aimée, I wish they did, 'cause I'd send you dozens of them!
xx

Gine, I have nothing against Italy, darling, but I'd rather see my country win. :D
xx

Jennifer, thank you!

Ashley, I was mesmerized by them when the magazine arrived by mail. :D
Thanks!

Anna, I love anything strawberry. :D
Thank you!

Parita, thank you!

Elisabetta, tks for stopping by! And you can have as many cupcakes as you want. :)

Lydia, I'm sure you and Ted cheered for Brazil. :)
xx

Lorraine, I do! I absolutely love Donna Hay! Now you've got me curious, darling!

Deeba, thank you, sweetie!
We should watch a soccer game together, it would be so much fun! :D

Abby, and if I lived nearby I would certainly beg you for a couple of jars! :D

Joey, I knew you'd like these, dear! I can't wait to try all those cupcakes (these are the second I made from that spread).
Hey, you must be a fantastic company for the games!
xoxo

Stephanie Maris said...

Oh how cute! These look fantastic, I can't way to try them myself <3

Terry at Blue Kitchen said...

Patricia--Even I, who know nothing about soccer, was stunned to hear that the United States sent Spain packing! Wow!

Julia @Mélanger said...

Would you recommend this as your favourite basic vanilla cupcake recipe? I'm searching for one for an upcoming competition!

Sarah said...

These seem simple and simply fabulous.

Patricia Scarpin said...

Hi, Julia!
This is a really good one, I highly recommend it - very tender.
Hope you like it!

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