Sunday, June 16, 2013

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes with Boiled Flour Icing

One of the many things I learned from my mother was how to substitute ingredients.  After my dad retired from the Navy and they built our home on three acres my grandparents had given them, grocery stores were not that close and the commissary was almost 30 minutes away.  I know that doesn't seem far in today's standards, but when you have a large family and only one car...you might as well "forget about it!"

The first time my mother made up a batch of "boiled flour" icing was because there wasn't enough confectioners' sugar and she had planned to frost a cake she made for my dad.  I was amazed at how much I loved this icing.  I can only say, it reminds me of an Italian buttercream with half the butter!

Now, for the strawberry shortcake idea...that came from Ari, who thought it would be a great dessert for PopPop's "Father's Day."  When I asked him if he wanted a biscuit cake or a vanilla cake, he answered, "Vanilla!!"  So, we decided to make them into cupcakes...because who doesn't like a cupcake.

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes with Boiled Flour Icing
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 oz. cream cheese
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 T Vanilla extract
2 cups King Arthur all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350F-degree. Line a 12-cup + a 6-cup muffin pan with 18 cupcake liners and set aside.
In a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, cream the butter and cream cheese together.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl.  Add the sugar and beat until fluffy.  Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.  Add the vanilla.


Whisk the dry ingredients and add to the batter, alternatively with the milk.  Beat one minute more, then scoop the batter into the prepared baking cups, two-thirds full.  Bake in the preheated oven, 18 to 20 minutes.



In Mimi's house...licking is permissable!! 

Allow the cupcakes to cool about 10 minutes before transferring them to a rack to cool completely.

Boiled Flour Icing
5 T King Arthur all-purpose flour
1 cup milk



Whisk the flour slowly into the milk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens and forms a ball.  Remove to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and cool about 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla or as I used 3 T Strawberry Syrup


In a stand mixer, using the whisk attachment, cream the butter and sugar.  Add the vanilla or Strawberry syrup and whisk again.  Add the cooled flour/milk mixture and whisk until the icing comes together.  Additionally, you can add 2 to 3 drops of red food coloring for appearance.

To assemble:
Use an apple corer to remove a "plug" from the cupcake.  Fill with homemade strawberry jam.

I like to add a part of the "plug" over the jam before frosting it.  Fill a piping bag with the icing and swirl some on top.
Ari helped and didn't do too bad a job with a little help from Me holding the other end so he pushed the icing out the right side.

For serving, I cut strawberries in half, sprinkle with a little sugar, and Brulee them.


Wishing all the dads a happy day; my guys are chilling out--Enjoy! 

17 comments:

  1. OMG, Susan. Ari is a doll! What a darling little boy. Ohhhhh. Your heart must be so filled with love for him.

    And boiled flour frosting! Now your Mama was a very ingenious woman. I never would have thought of that. The cuppy cakes look yum! Susan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The icing is delicious, but it wasn't her recipe; it's been around a long time. I found a recipe card recently with her handwriting and couldn't wait to try it again. And, the cupcakes were yummy! XOXO

      Delete
  2. How wonderful - as I see your boy on the couch - resting after maybe one too many cupcakes?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nah...he just had one, but I worked him hard baking, playing ball with PopPop, and blowing bubbles outside. XOXO

      Delete
  3. Susan, your creativity just blows me away! What gorgeous creations! And when you say, brulee the strawberries, does that mean you took a creme brulee torch to them before putting them on top? I never heard of boiled flour icing--intriguing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes--after sprinkling with sugar, I used a torch to carmelized them. My mother used the boiled flour icing a lot and not always when she was out of confectioners' sugar. The other icing that was a good substitution was the 7-minute Frosting. That one is more like a marshmallowy kind of frosting. It's been fun going through things for the move and finding a piece of my past. BTW--we have sold our home and are headed for North Carolina! XOXO

      Delete
  4. Hello Susan
    I am not a great cook perhaps I could be if I had more time but thats my lot at present and I have to put up with it! Never-the-less I do like to read your post and even imagine myself baking some of these inpressive dishes or cakes that you make. At the same time I'd say I have extended my vocabulary in my own language because I have learnt so much from all the different cooking terms that you use. I really hadn't heard of some of them before. I certainly have never heard of boiled flour icing either. Marvelous! It looks so delicious though.

    keep well

    Amanda :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Amanda. I know I learned a lot from my mother when it came to baking and I love passing it on, XOXO

      Delete
  5. Now this is a cupcake I would pay $2.50 for!!! to explain a cupcake bakery (only make cupcakes) opened here in our little city. apparently they won a contest on Food network...anyway we stopped by the other day paid $2.50 each for cupcakes and sorry to say we were disappointed. Oh well, guess I'm not a cupcake expert BUT Susan yours sound much better. thanks for sharing
    stamping sue
    http://stampingsueinconnecticut.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't believe how expensive cupcakes are--but you're right, this one is really good. Ari said, "I especially like the surprise strawberry jam in the middle!" XOXO

      Delete
  6. I love learning all these new things from you, boiled flour icing who would have though it. Now that Ari is adorable! Oh and strawberry shortcake cupcakes, yummy!!!

    hugs,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ari enjoys helping you a lot with the baking (or licking all the sweets? LOL) ...the boiled flour icing is definitely something new to me, Susan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really is quite an exquisite icing and definitely tastes like a sophisticated butter cream, XOXO

      Delete
  8. I love strawberries! Glad to see Ari in the kitchen with Mimi. :) Special memories! I can't believe you're leaving the west coast so soon, but glad the house selling part is over...I would love to come visit in NC once you get settled. Eventhough I'm a CA girl by birth, I miss that side of the U.S. Enjoy the last few weeks and safe travels, my friend. Lv, me

    ReplyDelete
  9. Susan I love to spend time in the kitchen with my grandsons also. It's quite amazing how well they do at such young ages. Of course their favorite part is licking the beater! I'll have to try the flour icing--I've never tried that! The cupcakes look delish! Enjoy your time with Ari! xoxo ♥

    ReplyDelete
  10. Susan, the cupcakes sound wonderful and how fun Ari can help you. My great-grandchildren love it when I am in the kitchen when they are here. I love the boiled flour icing idea. I am always game for new ideas.
    Glad you sold your house. NC is closer to IN so hopefully we can meet someday.

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a pretty looking cupcake and a wonderful idea! :)

    ReplyDelete