Moon Cycle Cupcakes Recipes

Steps:

• For the lotus paste: Place the dried lotus seeds in a medium bowl and cover with plenty of room temperature water. Let the seeds soak and rehydrate for at least 6 hours, and preferably overnight.
• Rinse the lotus seeds under cold water, then split them in half to remove and discard the green sprout in the center (they are very bitter). Transfer the seeds to a large pot and fill with plenty of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium-low and simmer until the seeds are tender enough to smash with a fork, about 1 hour. Drain well, then transfer the seeds to a food processor while they are still warm, add 3/4 cup sugar and puree until very smooth. (Add 1 to 2 tablespoons water if necessary to get a very smooth texture). Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a medium bowl.
• Melt 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening and the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, then cook until caramelized and deep golden, about 5 minutes. Add the lotus puree and cook, stirring continuously, until most of the moisture has been cooked out and the puree is similar in texture to thick mashed potatoes, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the remaining 1/3 cup vegetable shortening, then continue to cook, stirring continuously, until all of the shortening has fully incorporated and the paste is very thick, glossy and pulls away from the sides of the pan, about 6 minutes more. (The final lotus paste should be amber brown in color and almost stretchy in texture.) Transfer to a medium bowl and let cool completely.
• For the mooncake dough: Meanwhile, whisk together the golden syrup, alkaline water and vegetable oil in a large bowl until combined. Add the cake and all-purpose flours, then stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. Gently knead the dough until it comes together completely, then wrap in plastic wrap and set aside to rest, about 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Divide the lotus paste into 12 equal pieces (each about 2 1/2 tablespoons) and roll into golf ball-size balls. Place on a plate and chill in the refrigerator, 20 to 30 minutes. The colder the balls, the easier it will be to shape the mooncakes.
• Roll about 1 tablespoon of the mooncake dough into a ball, then place between 2 pieces of parchment paper that have been lightly dusted with flour. Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough to about 1/8 inch thick and 3 1/2 to 4 inches wide. Place one of the lotus paste balls in the center of the dough, and shape the dough around it, pinching the edges to seal. Roll the ball in your hands to smooth the exterior.
• Place the assembled ball in a plastic 2-inch wide miniature mooncake press mold, then turn the press upright on your work surface. Press the plunger down until you feel resistance, then lift the mooncake mold off the table and use the plunger to carefully press the mooncake out. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, then refrigerate while you make the remaining mooncakes in the same manner.
• Bake the mooncakes until the tops are no longer shiny and the dough has just set, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes. Whisk the egg together with a splash of water in a small bowl, then brush over the tops and sides of each mooncake. Return to the oven and bake until deep golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes more. Let cool on the baking sheet 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Enjoy fresh or store in an airtight container for 2 days (they'll get shinier as they sit).

Steps:

• Line a 12-hole muffin tin with 12 dark brown or black muffin cases. Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put all the ingredients in a large bowl and using a hand-held electric whisk, beat for 2-3 minutes, until fluffy.
• Divide the mixture between the muffin cases, then bake for 20 -25 minutes, until risen and springy to the touch - ask an adult to help you with this bit. When the cakes are cooked, take them out of the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely - ask an adult to help you with this bit too. You will need 8 of the cakes to make a full cycle of the moon. If you need to, you can trim the tops of the cakes so that they are flat.
• Mix 3 tbsp of the icing sugar with enough water to make a spreadable paste and set aside. Knead the blue and black fondant icing together until the colours are almost blended together, leaving a few streaks of blue running through.
• Dust a work surface with a little icing sugar and roll out the coloured icing so that it's large enough to cut out 12 x 7cm rounds. Spread a little smear of the icing sugar paste on top of each cake and stick an icing round on top.
• Roll out the white icing to about 0.5cm thick. Using a small sharp knife, cut out 2 thin crescent shapes to make the waxing and waning crescent. Using a 7cm cutter, cut out 4 rounds. Cut one round in half to make the first and third quarter of the moon. Leave one round as it is to make the full moon and cut a small crescent away from the remaining 2 rounds, to make the waxing and waning gibbous moon. Using a little of the icing paste, stick each shape on to a cake. Leave one cake with nothing on - this will be the new moon. Use a star-shaped cutter to decorate the 4 cupcakes not included in the cycle with the leftover white icing.
• Using a pastry brush, apply a tiny bit of water over the darker icing then sprinkle a little glitter over the top - the water helps it stick in place. Have fun arranging your cakes in a lunar cycle!

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 12 regular cupcake or muffin pans with cupcake liners.
• Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Cream the granulated sugar and shortening in a stand up mixer with a paddle attachment on low. Mix the bananas, buttermilk, vanilla and eggs until blended. Incorporate the flour mixture until blended. Do not over mix. Fill each cup three-quarters full and bake until golden brown and baked all the way through, about 18 minutes.
• Core each cupcake. Pipe the Marshmallow Cream Filling into the core. Dip the top of each cupcake into the Chocolate Coating. Generously frost each cupcake with the Marshmallow Frosting.
• Mix the creme, powdered sugar, butter and vanilla until creamy and fluffy in a stand up mixer with a paddle attachment on medium. Put the filling in a piping bag. Cut the tip of the piping bag 1/4-inch.
• Combine the chips, oil and extract in a double boiler or chocolate melting pot and set on medium temperature. Stir occasionally until smooth. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Boil 3 tablespoons water and the granulated sugar in a small saucepan over high heat. Stir constantly until the sugar has dissolved. Beat the egg whites, tartar and salt until soft peaks form in a stand up mixer with the whisk attachment. Carefully pour the hot sugar syrup into the egg whites with the mixer at medium speed. Whip the frosting until cool and billowy, about 5 minutes. Put the frosting in a medium piping bag with desired piping tip.