Savory Italian Cupcakes With Goat Cheese Frosting Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners (for a total of 40 cupcakes).
• For the apple filling: In a medium bowl, mix together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and apples. Set aside.
• For the applesauce cake batter: Cream together the granulated sugar, butter and oil in a large bowl. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat until well mixed. Add the applesauce and vanilla and mix well.
• Fill the liners one-third full with the applesauce cake batter. Add some of the apple filling on top, and then add additional applesauce cake batter to cover the apple filling; the liners should be two-thirds full. Bake until an inserted toothpick comes out clean, 16 to 19 minutes. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
• For the frosting: In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream together the butter and goat cheese until light and smooth. Add the confectioners' sugar 1 cup at a time and mix until fully incorporated. Add the vanilla bean paste and cinnamon and beat on high until light and fluffy.
• Using a piping bag, pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes.

Steps:

• 1. 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with liners. Mix the first five ingredients (flour through baking powder) in a bowl. With electric mixer, combine with 1/4 cup butter to form coarse crumbs. Stir in mozzarella cheese, sausage, olives, and tomatoes.
• 2. 2. In a small bowl, combine milk, pesto, and egg, then add to crumb mixture all at once. Stir quickly with a fork to moisten. Spoon into prepared muffin cups. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes.
• 3. 3. Make the "frosting." Let the goat cheese crumbles come to room temperature. In a bowl, mix the goat cheese, basil, and cream until smooth consistency, adding more cream if too thick. Pipe or spread frosting over cooled cupcakes and top with a slice of sausage, tomato, or a basil sprig, if desired.