Saturday, February 6, 2010

Pretty in Pink....Weekend Cooking

Today, I am in the mood for an easy, sweet treat, so here is a very nice cupcake recipe from one of my favorite Food Network cooks, Giada De Laurentiis. Of course, the glaze is pink, so it will be perfect for a little girls birthday, to celebrate the first day of Spring or your next tea party. But if you look carefully at the photo, you will see that I actually made them at Christmas, because they are delicious whatever the time of year.

Now, the recipe calls for making them in mini-cupcake pans but personally I used regular cupcakes liners and a regular cupcake pan and baked them about 3-4 minutes longer than the recipe calls for.

Mascarpone Mini Cupcakes with Strawberry Glaze

Prep Time: 15 min
Inactive Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 20 min

Ingredients

* 8 ounces mascarpone cheese (about 1 cup), softened
* 2 egg whites
* 1/4 cup vegetable oil
* 1 box white cake mix
* 1 cup water
* 1/3 cup frozen strawberries, thawed and drained
* 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
* Special equipment: 4 mini muffin tins and 48 mini muffin paper cupcake liners

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the mini tins with paper liners.

In a large bowl, combine the mascarpone cheese, egg whites and vegetable oil. Using a hand mixer, beat the ingredients until combined and creamy. Add the cake mix and water and mix until smooth, about 3 minutes. Fill the mini cups to just below the rim and bake until puffed and golden, about 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, let cool slightly in the tin then transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack.

Meanwhile, puree the strawberries in a blender or small food processor. Place the powdered sugar in a medium bowl. Pour in the strawberry puree and whisk until smooth. Top the cooled cupcakes with the strawberry glaze. Let the cupcakes sit for a few minutes for the glaze to firm up, then serve.

This is my contribution this week to Weekend Cooking. Be sure to check out the other entries this week. As always, hosted by Beth Fish Reads.


21 comments:

  1. I think I remember this show! Oh, they look SO GOOD. Why oh why can't I have a metabolism like my husband's so I can eat whatever I want?

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  2. These look so yummy! I would have eaten them for breakfast! I guess I'll have to stick with my cinnamon rolls instead :)

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  3. Those look amazing!

    Now, I must return to my banana breakfast and pretend it's one of these cupcakes.

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  4. actually kiki, mom says she made those ones in the picture. ; )

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  5. Bandit....perhaps...but I do think she gave me the recipe and I made this batch...since the photo was taken in my dining room.
    but I am not sure...while I am sure they were delicious.

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  6. Those look really yummy. Perfect for Valentine's Day!

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  7. you are right Diane, with a few of those little hearts perhaps...

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  8. I love Giada! And these are great for so many holidays -- for July 4 with blueberries and ice cream?

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  9. What a nice easy recipe. I think they would be perfect for an all-girl event like book club.

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  10. the perfect item to serve at a tea party. Thanks for sharing.

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  11. yummy!!! my husband loves strawberries and when i break down and make the cupcakes i always feel guilty frosting them with that horrible pink stuff from a tub. this is a much better idea! thanks for the tip. :)

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  12. so pretty and delicious looking!

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  13. I'm bookmarking this for a fun cooking activity with my nieces...they'll love that they're PINK! :)

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  14. I think I gained a couple of pounds just reading that recipe.

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  15. no no no. you have it all wrong. you were having us to dinner and mom brought dessert. remember thats the night i got loose?!

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  16. bandit, you may be right...except why to I remember making the icing...
    Regardless, they are yummy.

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  17. Thanks for sharing this recipe. The cupcakes sound wonderful and are pretty with the pink icing. This would be a great dessert to serve at a book club. I am saving the recipe and may make it for my next book club as I'm hosting.

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