Sweet Paul Magazine - Holiday 2010

UNCLE BEEFY’S SHERRY CUPCAKES WITH BROWNED BUTTER BUTTERCREAM

2 cups sugar
5 whole eggs, plus 1 egg yolk
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup melted butter
3/4 cup cream sherry
1/4 cup half & half
1/2 tablespoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg

For the frosting
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 cups whole milk
4 sticks unsalted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
Beat the sugar and eggs together
until fluffy and a pale yellow color
( 3 to 5 minutes).
Add the wet ingredients (oil,
melted butter, sherry, half & half,
vanilla) and mix until incorporated.
Sift together the flour, salt, baking
powder and nutmeg.
Add the dry ingredients and mix
until just combined.
(Do not over mix!)
Using a standard size, spring-
action ice cream scoop, place the
batter into a regular-size muffin
tin lined with cupcake papers.
Bake for 17 to 18 minutes, or
until an inserted toothpick
comes out clean.
Cool completely before frosting.
(If making a Bundt cake,
thoroughly grease and flour a
Bundt pan; bake about 45 to 55
minutes or until tester
comes out clean.)

For the frosting

In a saucepan, over medium-high heat, melt one stick of unsalted butter and cook until a deep golden brown. (Do not burn.) Set aside to cool completely. In a medium-size bowl, sift together sugar and flour. Add the whole milk and mix until thoroughly combined. Pour the mixture into a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking often, until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens (about 25 minutes). Place mixture in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, so that the plastic wrap is completely touching the mixture (to prevent it from forming a skin); allow to cool. When mixture has cooled and is warm to the touch, transfer to a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and beat on a medium-high setting. Add browned butter in small spoonfuls. Add nutmeg. Cut remaining 3 sticks of butter into small pats and slowly add to the frosting. Whip until light and fluffy.