Cupcake Project #9: The Sweet Lobby's Winning Cakes

Sesame Chestnut Mountain Cupcakes:

Chestnut Caramel Cake with Black Sesame Cream & Chestnut Cream Frosting with Black & White Sesame Chopsticks

This week's cupcake project features one of the winning cupcakes from Cupcake Wars winner The Sweet Lobby! After attempting this recipe I know why they are the champs. Accuracy, technique and use of ingredients are needed for this week's project. Okay cupcake lovers, good luck and God's speed! 

Happy Eating! 

Ingredients

• 5 ounces unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3.5 ounces brown sugar (about 1/2 cup)
• 3.5 ounces granulated cane sugar (about 1/2 cup)
• 7.5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 3/4 cups)
• 2 ounces chestnut flour (about 3/4 cup)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 9 ounces Caramel, recipe follows (about 1 cup)
• 10 ounces sour cream (about 1 1/4 cup)
• Black Sesame Pastry Cream, recipe follows
• Chestnut Cream Frosting, recipe follows
• Black and White Sesame Chopsticks, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a regular-size cupcake or muffin pan with 12 cupcake liners.

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, cream the butter and sugars together, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk together and set aside. Combine the eggs and vanilla in a small bowl. Scrape down the sides of the mixer bowl, and then add the vanilla and egg mixture, one egg at a time, with the mixer on low speed. Add the Caramel. Scrape down the sides of the bowl again, and then increase the speed to medium and combine thoroughly. With the mixer the lowest speed, add the flour mixture and the sour cream, alternating between the two, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix only until just combined, do not over-mix.

Fill the cupcake liners with a 16-size ice cream scoop, or about half full, and bake until dark golden and baked through, about 15 minutes. Cool the cupcakes completely.

To assemble: Core each cupcake using an apple corer. Fill each cupcake with the Black Sesame Pastry Cream and generously frost with the Chestnut Cream Frosting so that the frosting resembles a mountain of noodles. Top each cupcake with a pair of the Black and White Sesame Chopsticks.

This recipe was created by a contestant during a cooking competition. The Food Network Kitchens have not tested it for home use, therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

Caramel:

• 7 ounces granulated cane sugar (about 1 cup)
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• Juice of 1 lemon, optional

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan (or preferably an unlined copper pot), combine the sugar with 4 tablespoons water to moisten. Place over medium-high heat and, without stirring, cook until the sugar is dark amber in color. Meanwhile, place the cream in a saucepan over medium heat and warm to a simmer. Turn off the heat on the caramelized sugar and slowly add the warmed cream while stirring the caramel with a wooden spoon. Be careful as the mixture will splatter. Allow to thicken slightly over medium heat, about 5 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice if using. Cool completely. Yield: about 2 cups.

Black Sesame Pastry Cream:

• 1 cup whole milk
• 3 egg yolks
• 2 ounces granulated cane sugar (about 1/4 cup)
• 0.5 ounce cornstarch, sifted (about 2 tablespoons)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 ounce butter, at room temperature (about 2 tablespoons)
• 6 ounces tahini (about 1/2 cup)
• 2 tablespoons black sesame powder

Bring the milk to a boil in a small saucepan. In a small bowl, whisk together the yolks with the sugar and cornstarch until smooth and well blended. While whisking, slowly pour in one-quarter of the milk into the yolk mixture to temper the yolks. Add the remainder of the milk, while whisking. Pour back into the saucepan and place on medium heat. Whisk vigorously and constantly until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract. Allow to sit for 5 minutes. Whisk in the butter, piece by piece. Add the tahini and black sesame powder, and whisk to blend. Cool completely.
Chestnut Cream Frosting:

• 4 ounces chestnut paste or chestnut cream, such as Clement Faugier (about 3/4 cup)
• 4 ounces unsweetened chestnut puree, such as Clement Faugier (about 3/4 cup)
• 8 ounces unsalted butter, softened
• 4 ounces powdered sugar (about 1 cup)
• 1 tablespoon dark rum
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Special equipment: A multi-opening or spaghetti-style piping tip, such as Ateco 234

Recipe courtesy of The Food Network. Original recipe can be found here.