Spinach Olive Oil Cupcake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 12-cup muffin pans with paper liners.
• Make the cupcakes: Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Combine the olive oil and sugar in a large bowl and beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy, about 4 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then beat in the vanilla and lemon zest. Reduce the speed to low; beat in the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the milk. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until combined.
• Divide the batter among the muffin cups, filling them three-quarters of the way. Bake until the tops are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes in the pan, then remove to a rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: Combine the egg whites and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and place over a small pot of simmering water (make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water). Whisk by hand until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is warm to the touch, about 5 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pot and attach to the mixer; beat with the whisk attachment on high speed until the meringue is shiny and holds stiff peaks, about 7 minutes. Switch to the paddle attachment. With the mixer on medium speed, gradually add the butter and beat until smooth, 1 more minute. Add the vanilla and mix until just combined. Spread the frosting on the cupcakes.

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare 2 cupcake pans with paper liners.
• Puree the spinach to measure 1 cup. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Blend the sugar and eggs until creamy in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add then add the oil, lemon juice, vanilla and spinach puree and blend to combine. Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix for 30 more seconds.
• Bake for 14 minutes, then let cool completely.
• For the tomato marmalade: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the tomatoes and boil until the skin starts coming off, about 2 minutes, then plunge into a cold water bath. Peel, seed and dice the tomatoes. Transfer to a saucepan with the sugar, salt, cloves and cinnamon and cook until tender and syrupy, then let cool.
• For the buttercream frosting: Beat the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment until soft. Add the white chocolate and blend to combine, then mix in the butter, lemon juice and salt.
• For assembly: Use a melon baller to remove the center of each cupcake and fill with tomato marmalade. Pipe the tops with the buttercream frosting and garnish with more tomato marmalade.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 6-cup standard muffin tin (or the 6 middle cups of a 12-cup tin) with cooking spray and set aside. Whisk together the heavy cream and eggs in a large bowl and sprinkle with some salt and pepper. Add the leftover creamed spinach and thoroughly combine. Divide the spinach mixture among the muffin cups in the prepared pan. Bake in the middle of the oven until the tops are golden and they spring back to the touch, about 25 minutes. Allow to cool to just warm or room temperature before frosting.
• Meanwhile, add the feta and cream cheese to the bowl of a food processor and pulse until light and fluffy. Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip.
• Pipe the tops of each of the spinach cupcakes with some of the feta frosting. Top each with a sprinkle of paprika and some chopped chives and serve.

Steps:

• In a large saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the leeks and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted, 5 minutes. Add the garlic, stir and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add the spinach and cook until wilted and tender, 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, taste and season with salt and pepper as needed; let cool.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the ricotta, 2 eggs, the thyme and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Fold the cooled vegetable mixture and the olives into the ricotta mixture.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry until it's 12 inches square. Using a 12-inch plate or just eyeballing it, cut the dough into a circle (knead the scraps into a ball and save for another use-cheddar straws, say). Transfer the dough to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spoon the tart filling into the center, leaving a 2-inch border of pastry. Lift the pastry edges and fold over the filling, creasing the dough as needed and leaving the filling exposed in the middle. In a small bowl, whisk the remaining egg with 1 tablespoon water and brush a thin layer of the egg wash on the exposed pastry, taking care not to let egg run down the sides to the pan.
• Bake until the pastry is golden brown, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest 10 minutes before serving.