Arizona cupcakes
Cupcakes are small sponge cakes. In their original American version, they are usually decorated with brightly coloured icing. Here's a version inspired by the famous saguaro cactus, so common in Arizona.
134,958 14.5/5
Last modified on: October 13th 2010
For 25 cupcakes, you will need:
- 1
½ cup butter - 2
2 tablespoons caster sugar - 3
1 tablespoon Vanilla sugar - 4
2⁄3 cup flour - 5
2 eggs - 6
1 pinch salt - 7
1 teaspoon baking powder - 8
½ cup Marzipan (almond paste) - 9
1 tablespoon icing sugar - 10
2⁄3 cup fondant icing
How long does it take?
| Preparation | Cooking | Start to finish |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hour 14 min. | 35 min. | 1 hour 49 min. |
At what time?
When will I finish if I start the recipe at a certain time?
When should I start for the recipe to be ready at a certain time?
Work this out...
When should I start for the recipe to be ready at a certain time?
Work this out...
Step by step recipe
Stage 1
3 min.
Cut ½ cup butter into small pieces and tip into the bowl of the mixer, along with 2 tablespoons caster sugar and 1 tablespoon Vanilla sugar.Stage 2
5 min.
Knead for a few minutes on slow speed until thoroughly mixed.Stage 3
3 min.
Then add 2⁄3 cup Stage 4
5 min.
Knead again on medium speed just until evenly mixed.Preheat oven to 180°C (360°F).
Stage 5
10 min.
Divide the mixture between small moulds, preferably in paper cake cases. Do not over fill as the cakes will expand during cooking.You can divide out the mixture with a spoon, but it's much quicker and easier to use a forcing bag.
Stage 6
35 min.
Put in the oven and bake for around 35 minutes (watch for colouring).Leave to cool on a wire rack.
Stage 7
15 min.
Meanwhile, make the cacti using green marzipan.Stage 8
10 min.
Melt 2⁄3 cup fondant icing in a bain-marie.Note: if you don't have fondant icing, make up a quick glacé icing using 100g icing sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon water, or just a little more.
Stage 9
2 min.
Spread icing over the cupcakes...Stage 10
1 min.
... and place a cactus on top immediately.Stage 11
20 min.
Decorate all the cupcakes like this.Remarks
You can start with the basic cupcake mix and let your imagination run wild!
A quick variation: replace the marzipan decorations with pistachio paste, which gives a more realistic saguaro cactus colour.
For that real Arizona touch, the sun should make an appearance on the cupcakes, maybe as a small circle of yellow marzipan at the top to left or right of the cactus? Oh, well - for next time.
A quick variation: replace the marzipan decorations with pistachio paste, which gives a more realistic saguaro cactus colour.
For that real Arizona touch, the sun should make an appearance on the cupcakes, maybe as a small circle of yellow marzipan at the top to left or right of the cactus? Oh, well - for next time.
Nutritional information
How much will it cost?
For 25 cupcakes : 3.38 €
Per cupcakes : 0.14 €
Source: Home-made, but warmly dedicated to Krissy, Kelley and Heather, three charming friends from Phoenix, of whom I cherish fond memories.
More recipes?
This recipe use (among others) | Fondant icing: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Chinois, Chocolate eclairs, ... All |
| Flour: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Chestnut Fudge Cupcakes, Oat shortbread biscuits, Biscuit de Savoie sponge cake, Almond mug cake for Mary, Rabbit civet, ... All |
 | Marzipan (almond paste): You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Little Christmas biscuits, Fraisier (French strawberry cake), How to make marzipan decorations, Piped petits-fours, Provençal colombier for Pentecost, ... All |
| Butter: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Hazelnut and orange cake, Tarte Normande, Saltimbocca, Salmon and Spinach Gratin, Spinach Croque-monsieur , ... All |
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