Vanilla Cupcakes With Rhubarb Compote Recipes

Steps:

• For the cake batter: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F; line a cupcake pan with 12 cupcake liners.
• Sift together the flour, granulated sugar, cardamom, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Add the buttermilk, oil, vanilla extract and eggs and mix until smooth and completely combined.
• Pour the batter into the cupcake liners and bake until golden brown and risen, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.
• For the rhubarb compote: In a medium saucepan, combine the rhubarb, granulated sugar and 1/4 cup water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until the water is absorbed and the rhubarb softens. Set aside to cool.
• For the cardamom frosting: In a medium mixing bowl using an electric mixer, cream the butter. Add the confectioners' sugar 1/4 cup at a time and mix until completely smooth. Mix in the cardamom and vanilla extract.
• To assemble: Remove the centers of each cupcake using a paring knife. Fill each with some of the rhubarb compote and frost with the cardamom frosting. Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Steps:

• Combine strawberries and sugar in a bowl; stir well. Place in a refrigerator until a light syrup forms, about 40 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 24 cupcake cups or line with paper liners.
• Combine cake mix, oil, eggs, and food coloring in a large bowl. Add strawberry compote and mix well. Pour in water slowly and mix until batter is blended.
• Divide batter evenly between the prepared cupcake cups.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer to wire racks to cool completely, 15 to 30 minutes.
• Beat heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract together in a mixing bowl using an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold in cream cheese until smooth. Frost completely cooled cupcakes.

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine rhubarb with sugar over low heat. When the rhubarb starts to soften, but before it falls apart, about 5 minutes, use a slotted spoon to transfer it to a bowl.
• Cook down the remaining liquid in the pan until it thickens and turns syrupy, about 5 minutes longer. (This condenses and intensifies the rhubarb flavor.) Add the syrup to the bowl with the rhubarb and let cool. Compote will keep for at least a week in the fridge.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 140C/fan 120C/gas 1. Put the rhubarb pieces into a bowl and add the sugar, honey, a squeeze of lemon juice and 3 tbsp water. Mix well, then lay the pieces flat in a roasting tray. Split the vanilla pods in half, then scrape out the seeds and reserve for the vanilla crème fraîche. Add the vanilla pods to the rhubarb, then bake in the oven for 30 mins.
• Meanwhile, stir the vanilla seeds and icing sugar into the crème fraîche. When the rhubarb is cooked, drain the juices into a pan, then boil to thicken slightly. Mix the rhubarb with the stem ginger and juices, then spoon over pancakes. Top with a spoonful of vanilla crème fraîche and a sprinkling of lemon zest.
• Serve with our easiest ever pancakes. For recipe see 'Goes well with' above.