AN ARRAY OF RECIPES AND TIPS

"IN THE STYLE OF" GRAHAM


3.10.2012

HUMMINGBIRD CUPCAKES WITH DRIED PINEAPPLE FLOWERS

I have been hearing about hummingbird cake for a couple years now, (I love the name) so I finally decided to give it a try this weekend. It is an old fashioned southern cake believed to have Jamaican roots. The cake is similar to banana bread but has a hint of pineapple, pecans, coconut, cinnamon and of course, a super rich cream cheese frosting. It is a delicious little cupcake!

HUMMINGBIRD CUPCAKES WITH DRIED PINEAPPLE FLOWERS
Adapted from Martha Stewart and Joy of Baking
Makes 32 cupcakes

Cupcakes:
1 cup  pecans, toasted and finely chopped
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups sugar
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3-4 medium sized bananas)
1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, drained

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/4 cup unsalted butter (57 grams), room temperature
8 ounces cream cheese (227 grams), room temperature
1 pound (454 grams) (about 3 2/3 cups) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
                                       
Garnish: (optional)
1/2 cup sweetened coconut, toasted
32 pecan halves, toasted
Dried pineapple flowers (recipe follows)

Toast the Pecans:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in center of oven.
Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for about 8 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant.
Let cool and then chop finely.
 
 
Make the Cupcakes:
Line cupcake pan with paper liners; set aside. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon.

Lightly beat the eggs in a small cup...
In a large bowl, mash the bananas...
add oil, eggs, vanilla extract, pineapple and finely chopped pecans. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and stir until combined.
   
Divide batter evenly among liners, filling about 2/3 full. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, approx 22 to 25 minutes.

Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Make the Frosting:
In the bowl of your mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and cream cheese (make sure they are room temperature), on low speed, until very smooth with no lumps. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and beat, on low speed, until fully incorporated and smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla extract.

Frost the Cupcakes:





Once cupcakes have cooled, frost tops of each cupcake. Decorate with dried pineapple flowers (recipe below), or toasted coconut flakes (toast in 350 degree oven for 6 minutes or until golden, stirring frequently) or pecan halves if desired. Serve cupcakes at room temperature.

Make the Dried Pineapple Flowers:
Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Line two baking sheets with nonstick baking mats or parchment paper.
Cut sides and top of pineapple off. Take a pairing knife or a small melon baller, remove and discard pineapple "eyes" (the dark sharp pieces on the sides of the pineapple.

Using a sharp knife, cut pineapple crosswise into very thin slices, almost translucent. I had a dull knife so mine were not thin enough.
 Transfer slices to baking sheets.
 Bake until tops look dried, about 30 minutes. Flip slices; bake until completely dried, 25 to 30 minutes more. Note: I baked mine for 3 hours and they were still not dried, I guess I didn't slice them thin enough.
 Pinch center of each pineapple slice to shape into a cone, and let cool in a muffin tin to form flowers.
Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days.
The pineapple flowers make a dramatic cupcake topper...
 All packaged up and ready to be delivered...
PRINTABLE RECIPE




6 comments:

Jane said...

Hello!

I couldn't find an email address to contact you so I'm leaving you a comment. My name is Jane Moesser and I work with Shabby Apple. We are a vintage inspired online clothing store (www.shabbyapple.com). I recently heard about your blog here and I loved it! Your recipes look fantastic.

We'd like to work with you to host a gift card giveaway for your readers. I think this could be something your readers would enjoy. If you think this would be something you'd be interested in, we'd love to hear from you and get started. Thanks!

Looking forward to hearing from you,
Jane Moesser
Shabby Apple

reyahs kitchen said...

wow, this is very artistic....and it also look so delicious too.

Bad to the Scone said...

The pineapple flower is the perfect touch to these beautiful cupcakes, love it!

Anonymous said...

Are you posting anymore? always loved your recipes and photos but I don't see anything since August

chenlili said...

2016-4-29 xiaobao
coach factory outlet
hollister clothing
coach outlet store online
toms shoes
true religion outlet
cheap jerseys
celine bags
juicy couture
rolex watches outlet
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors handbags
jordan 8
cheap jerseys wholesale
nfl jerseys wholesale
nike air max
gucci handbags
cheap oakley sunglasses
louis vuitton handbags
ray ban sunglasses
replica watches
replica watches
jordan concords
michael kors handbags
true religion
coach outlet online
coach outlet
nike roshe run
toms outlet
mont blanc pens
kate spade
coach outlet online
hollister clothing store
louis vuitton bags
michael kors handbags
christian louboutin outlet
coach outlet online
cartier watches
christian louboutin outlet
michael kors outlet

Sue-Ann said...

That cupcake is so rich in tasty fruits- it must have Jamaican roots ;-)

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails