a.k.a. Vanilla Funfetti Cupcakes with a Strawberry Cheesecake Filling, topped with Marshmallow Frosting
Yeah, I like "Unicorn Poop Cupcakes" better.
I am not above bending to a trend to get a a few extra eyes on the blog. These cupcakes are exactly that. I didn't make them because I thought they'd be tasty (they are) or just sooooo cute (they are) or because I'm just that sorta girl (I'm not). I made them to hit a note with all the unicorn and rainbow food trends happening in lattes, on toast and in every sweet form imaginable.
I fear, though, that I'm already late to the party.
Would you believe that I shot the video, photos and wrote the recipe about 4 months prior to finally writing the blog post about it? The internet was in the thick of all things pastel and multi-coloured at the time. Since then, the anti-unicorn movement has happened with all black "charcoal" flavoured ice-creams and other rubbish. Yes, it's all a load of rubbish. But, trends will be trends, and we all like to look at them. Don't deny that you don't.
That said, take away the sprinkles and rainbow marshmallow frosting, and these cupcakes are friggin delicious!
I only used 5 colours for the frosting in the video, but here I've used 6 colours and made the colours a little stronger. I prefer how these ones look!
If I'm completely honest, the rainbow frosting is actually a little bit of a faff to make. It's the dividing of the frosting and colouring each one that is a little time-consuming. The next time I make these cupcakes, unless I have the big eyes of a little girl begging me to make it all pretty and pastel, I'll just be leaving the frosting white and using some fun sprinkles on top, instead.
But, you have to admit, the colours are pretty funky!
I've used my favourite vanilla cupcake recipe, lovely and soft, buttery and not too sweet. The filling? Oh man. You will be glad that the recipe actually makes a little more than is actually needed. You WILL be eating it with a spoon, possibly piping it straight into your mouth from the piping bag. It. Is. Glorious. Perfect for strawberry season, of course.
Basically, it's a cheesecake mixture, but no gelatin or any worry about it needing to set. It's a filling, after all. A delicious, tangy, sweet, surprisingly light, strawberry infused cheesecake filling.
I went with a marshmallow/meringue frosting because I wanted something that was pure white (easier to colour) as well as not being too sweet. It's also rather dreamy and light, very unicorn-esque. I don't use marshmallow frosting enough, I fear. I think I should start making it more. Agree?
Better late than never, my Unicorn Poop Cupcakes ('cause unicorns poop rainbows, obviously...)
Unicorn Poop Cupcakes
| Funfetti Cupcakes (Makes 12) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| 95g | 3.5 oz | 3/4 cup | Self Raising Flour |
| 80g | 3 oz | 1/2 cup | Plain Flour |
| 1/4 tsp | 1/4 tsp | 1/4 tsp | Salt |
| 125ml | 4.5 fl oz | 1/2 cup | Milk |
| 1 tsp | 1 tsp | 1 tsp | Vanilla Extract |
| 115g | 4 oz | 1/2 cup | Unsalted Butter, softened (1 stick) |
| 200g | 7 oz | 1 cup | Granulated Sugar |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | Eggs |
| 50g | 2 oz | 1/3 cup | Confetti Sprinkles |
| Strawberry Cheesecake Filling | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 40g | 1.5 oz | 1.5 oz | Fresh Strawberries, cleaned & hulled |
| 1 Tbsp | 1 Tbsp | 1 Tbsp | Icing Sugar |
| 1/4 tsp | 1/4 tsp | 1/4 tsp | Vanilla Extract |
| 100g | 3.5 oz | 3.5 oz | Full Fat Cream Cheese |
| 2 Tbsp | 2 Tbsp | 2 Tbsp | Double Cream |
Method
- Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C Fan Assisted / 350°F)
- Line 1 muffin tin with cupcake liners
- In a small bowl sift the flours and salt together then set aside
- Combine the milk and vanilla extract in a jug or small bowl and set aside
- In a large bowl cream the butter until smooth
- Add the sugar and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes
- Add eggs 1 at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Scrape the sides of the bowl between adding each egg
- Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients to the butter and beat until just incorporated
- Beat in 1/2 of the milk & vanilla
- Beat in 1/2 of the remaining dry ingredients
- Beat in the last of the wet ingredients
- Finally, add the last of the dry ingredients and the confetti sprinkles, lightly mix or fold just until combined
- Spoon the batter into the prepared cupcake liners to about 3/4 full
- Bake for 20 - 25 mins or until a toothpick comes out clean
- Leave to cool in the pans for 10 mins
- Remove cupcakes from the pans and cool completely on a wire rack before filling & frosting
- Use an apple corer or small round pastry cutter to remove the centre of each cupcake (then enjoy nibbling on the bits you removed!
Prepare the filling
- Combine strawberries, icing sugar and vanilla in a small food processor, blitz until mostly smooth
- Add the cream cheese and blitz until smooth and creamy
- Transfer mixture to a bowl then add the cream
- Whisk slowly just until incorporated (to avoid splashing) then whisk on high speed until mixture is thick and holds soft peaks
- Spoon filling into a piping bag then fill the cupcakes with the mixture
- Prepare the marshmallow frosting (see below) then pipe swirls of frosting onto each cupcake
- Decorate with sprinkles or edible glitter, optional
| Marshmallow Frosting | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 3 | Egg Whites |
| 150g | 5 oz | 2/3 cup | Caster Sugar |
| 1/4 tsp | 1/4 tsp | 1/4 tsp | Vanilla Extract |
| Gel or Paste Food Colouring | |||
Method
- Starting on low speed, then increasing to a medium speed, whisk the room temperature egg whites in a scrupulously clean bowl until they become frothy
- Still whisking, spoon in 1 tablespoon of sugar at a time very slowly
- Increase the speed as you slowly add the sugar
- When all the sugar has been whisked in and the meringue is glossy with stiff peaks, whisk in the vanilla
- Divide the meringue into smaller bowls, one bowl for each colour
- Colour each bowl of meringue with gel or paste food colouring, a small whisk is best for this
- Tip: You do lose some volume when you mix in the colouring, this is normal! I used 5 colours for the cupcakes in my video, but 6 colours for the photos. I prefer the ones with 6 colours, and I also made the colours just slightly darker
- Lay a piece of clingfilm flat on the counter, then spoon a line of each coloured frosting onto it, each line right next to and touching the previous one (this is best seen in my video)
- Fold up an excess clingfilm on the ends, then bring the one side over so that the frosting folds over onto itself. Close over and gently shape into a thick roll
- Twist the ends closed
- Trim away the one end of the clingfilm and put that end first into a piping bag fitted with a large plain or star piping tip
- Now pipe swirls of frosting onto each cupcake
