Churro Cupcakes Recipes

Steps:

• For the cake batter: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 12-cup muffin pans with cupcake liners.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the flours, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the sugar and butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until just incorporated. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixing speed to low. Add the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the milk. Beat until combined.
• Divide the batter evenly among the lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
• For the filling: Combine the sugar and 1 tablespoon water into a medium bowl over medium-high heat. Constantly stir until the sugar dissolves into a liquid form. The sugar will dissolve and start to turn brown. Once the sugar and water have completely dissolved, add in the butter and vanilla. Slowly whisk in the heavy cream. Let cool for 10 minutes. Refrigerate for 1 hour to let the caramel thicken before using.
• For the frosting: Beat the butter and cream cheese until light and creamy. Add in the vanilla. Add in the powder sugar, 1 cup at a time, incorporating fully before next addition. Add milk as needed if the frosting is too thick. Place the frosting into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip.
• Once the cupcakes have cooled, pull out the centers with a cupcake corer. Melt down the butter. Mix together some cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl. Using a rubber brush, brush the melted butter onto the cupcakes, then roll the tops of the cupcakes into the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Fill the cupcakes with the caramel sauce. Frost cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, dust with more cinnamon and sugar. If you choose, drizzle the cupcakes with leftover caramel sauce.

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper cupcake liners.
• In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, sour cream, vanilla and eggs until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Turn the speed to low and add the dry ingredients. Blend until well combined, about 25 seconds.
• Pour 2 1/2 to 3 tablespoons of batter into each cupcake liner. Bake the cupcakes until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool.
• For the buttercream: Using an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, vanilla and cinnamon until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed, about 2 minutes. With the machine running on low, add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, alternating with the milk, and mix until combined. Fit a pastry bag with a star tip and fill with the buttercream.
• For the tortilla crisps: Mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon on a large plate. Set aside.
• In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan, add enough oil to come halfway up the sides of the pan. Heat over medium-high heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil registers 350 degrees F. (If you do not have a thermometer, test the oil with a piece of tortilla, which should sizzle when it touches the oil and should brown in 2 to 3 minutes.)
• Meanwhile, using a cookie cutter, cut the tortillas into different shapes and/or letters. Fry the tortilla pieces until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the crisps to paper towels to drain. While still warm, transfer to the cinnamon-sugar mixture and turn to coat.
• To assemble the cupcakes: Pipe a swirl of buttercream on each cupcake and top with a tortilla crisp.