Maple Cupcakes from Baked Explorations

This morning we gave you our review of the new book from the Baked boys: Baked Explorations, by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito. Well, we couldn’t resist sharing a recipe too from this lovely, enticing book. And what better for fall than these moist, luscious maple cupcakes?

Maple Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Though it may be a cliché in this country, Vermont is virtually synonymous with maple syrup. Maple festivals figure heavily into the Vermont calendar, and all manner of maple merchandise (aprons, magnets, candies, cookbooks . . .) is available for purchase in the retail shops that line many of Vermont’s historic towns. Real maple syrup deserves its reputation. It gives these cupcakes a great robust flavor, moist crumb, and golden brown color, while the cream cheese frosting with a touch of maple syrup provides the perfect accompaniment. The cupcakes are truly autumnal, but I encourage you to make them during any season you please.

yield: 24 cupcakes

Ingredients
for the maple cupcakes
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, slightly softened,cut into chunks
2 tablespoons vegetable shortening, at room temperature
2 cups pure maple syrup (I use grade B to bake with but any grade will suffice)
3 egg yolks
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped

for the cream cheese maple frosting
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
12 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons maple syrup

assembly
Whole toasted walnuts (optional)

Baked Note: Do not, I repeat, do not use imitation maple syrup in this recipe. Actually, avoid imitation maple syrup at all times. It is usually composed of corn syrup and food coloring and, sadly, contains very little, if any, real maple syrup. In short, it’s hard to think of a more disingenuous grocery store product.

make the maple cupcakes
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two 12-cup cupcake pans with paper liners.
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and shortening until ribbonlike. Turn the mixer to low and stream in the maple syrup. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the mixture is nearly uniform in color, about 3 minutes.

Add the egg yolks and egg, one at a time, and beat until just incorporated. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Add half of the flour mixture and mix on low speed until incorporated. Stream in the milk. Stop the mixer, add the rest of the flour, then turn the mixer on until just combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and fold in the walnuts.

Fill the prepared cupcake pan about three-quarters full. Bake the cupcakes for 20 to 25 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through the baking time, until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Note: These cupcakes take longer to bake than traditional cupcakes due to the maple syrup.

Allow the cupcakes to cool for 15 minutes in the cupcake pan, then turn them out onto wire racks to cool completely.

make the cream cheese maple frosting
In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter until it is completely smooth. Add the cream cheese and beat until combined.

Add the sugar and the maple syrup and beat until smooth. Be careful not to overbeat the frosting or it will lose structure. (At this point, if you want to, you can tightly cover the frosting and refrigerate it for a day. Let it soften at room temperature before using.)

assemble the cupcakes
There are many ways to frost a cupcake. If you have a pastry bag, simply fit with the largest tip, fill the bag with frosting, and pipe enough to cover the cupcake in a big mound. If you do not have a pastry bag, use an ice cream scoop with a release mechanism to scoop the frosting and dispense it onto the top of the cupcake. You can also use an offset spatula to frost the cupcakes. Top with whole toasted walnuts.

Refrigerate any leftover cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Bring cupcakes to room temperature before serving.

• Read our review: Baked Explorations by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito
• Find the book: Baked Explorations: Classic American Desserts Reinvented, $19.77 at Amazon. Released October 1 by Stewart, Tabori & Chang.

(Image and recipe reprinted with permission of Stewart, Tabori & Chang)