Brown Sugar Pecan Cupcakes Recipes

BROWN SUGAR-PECAN CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 18 regular-size muffin cups.
• Spread pecans in ungreased shallow pan. Bake uncovered 6 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown; cool. Place 1/4 cup of the pecans in food processor. Cover; process until finely chopped. In small bowl, mix finely chopped pecans and the brown sugar; set aside for topping.
• In another small bowl, mix flour and baking soda; set aside. In medium bowl, beat 1/4 cup butter and the shortening with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Gradually add 3/4 cup of the granulated sugar, beating well. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating on low speed after each addition until blended.
• In small bowl, beat egg whites with electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Add remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold one-third of egg whites into batter; fold in remaining egg whites and remaining 1/2 cup toasted pecans. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling two-thirds full.
• Bake 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely.
• Meanwhile, in 1-quart heavy saucepan, cook 1/4 cup butter over medium heat, stirring constantly, until browned. Pour into large bowl; refrigerate 20 minutes. Add cream cheese to browned butter; beat with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste.
• Frost each cupcake with generous 2 tablespoons frosting. Sprinkle with reserved pecan-brown sugar mixture.

SWEET POTATO CUPCAKES, BROWN SUGAR CREAM CHEESE FROSTING, CANDIED PECANS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cupcake pan with 18 paper liners, set aside.
• Make the sweet potato puree by processing the sweet potatoes in a food processor. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger and nutmeg.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and eggs. Add the dry ingredients. Whisk in the sweet potato puree. Fill each cupcake in the prepared pan three-quarters full of batter.
• Bake until the tops spring back when touched and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool.
• To assemble: Frost the cupcakes with the Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting. Sprinkle with the Candied Pecans.
• In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until creamy. Add the butter and beat until well incorporated. Add the light brown sugar and beat until fluffy. Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, beating until well incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
• Beat the egg white in a bowl until frothy; whisk 4 teaspoons water and the vanilla extract into the egg. Stir the sugar, cinnamon and salt into the egg mixture. Add the chopped pecans, stir to coat completely. Spread the pecans onto the baking sheet. Bake the pecans, stirring about every 20 minutes, until the coating forms a glaze, about 1 hour. Allow to cool on the baking sheet.

BROWN-BUTTER PECAN PIE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners, and coat the liners and the top of the tin with cooking spray.
• Spread the pecans out on a baking sheet, and bake until nicely toasted, about 10 minutes. Let cool. Set aside 12 nice halves as garnish, then pulse the remaining pecans in a food processor until finely ground. Transfer the ground pecans to a medium bowl. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, and whisk to combine; set aside.
• Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating to incorporate after each addition. Scrape down the side of the bowl once or twice as needed. Beat in the vanilla. Adjust the speed to low, and add half the flour mixture, then the sour cream, then the remaining flour mixture until just combined.
• Divide the batter evenly among the cups of the prepared muffin tin. Bake until the edges are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 22 to 24 minutes, rotating the tin halfway through. Let the cupcakes cool in the tin for a few minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. (The cupcakes can be made 1 day ahead and stored at room temperature in an airtight container.)
• For the frosting: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat, swirling occasionally, until the milk solids have turned golden brown and the butter smells toasty, about 10 minutes. Pour the butter into a shallow baking dish, and refrigerate until it's solid but still soft enough that your finger leaves an indentation, about 25 minutes. Scrape the cooled butter into a large bowl (be sure not to leave any brown bits in the skillet), and beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. While continuing to beat, add the corn syrup, and beat until incorporated. Scrape down the side of the bowl. Adjust the speed to medium-low, add the confectioners' sugar and salt, and beat until smooth. Use right away or keep for up to 2 hours at room temperature in an airtight container.
• To assemble: Divide the frosting evenly among the cupcakes, and use a small offset spatula or the back of a spoon to swirl. Top each cupcake with a teaspoonful of dulce de leche and 1 of the reserved toasted pecans.

BROWN SUGAR CUPCAKES WITH BROWNED BUTTER FROSTING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups, grease bottoms and sides of muffin cups with shortening and lightly flour, or spray with baking spray with flour.
• In medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.
• In large bowl, beat 1 cup butter on medium speed 30 seconds. Gradually add granulated sugar and brown sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating well after each addition, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat 2 minutes longer. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. On low speed, alternately add flour mixture, about one-third at a time, with 2/3 cup milk, about half at a time, beating just until blended.
• Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each with about 3 tablespoons batter or until two-thirds to three-fourths full.
• Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pans; place on cooling racks. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• In small saucepan, heat 1/2 cup butter over medium heat, stirring constantly, until light golden brown. Cool completely. In large bowl, beat browned butter, powdered sugar and 4 tablespoons milk with electric mixer on low speed. until blended. Beat in enough remaining milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until frosting is smooth and spreadable. Frost cupcakes.

PECAN PIE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a muffin tin with paper liners and coat liners with cooking spray.
• Combine brown sugar, pecans, and flour in a large bowl; make a well in the center.
• Beat eggs in a large bowl with an electric mixer until foamy, 3 to 5 minutes. Fold in butter and vanilla. Pour into the center of the brown sugar mixture. Stir until batter is well mixed.
• Spoon batter into the muffin tin, filling each cup 2/3 of the way.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.

CHOCOLATE-PECAN CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line 12 muffin cups with foil liners. Place egg whites, baking powder and vanilla in a large bowl; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating just until stiff but not dry. Gradually fold in grated chocolate, crackers and pecans., Fill prepared cups. Bake on lowest oven rack until puffed and tops appear dry (some tops may fall), 13-15 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely., For filling, in a large bowl, beat butter, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Gently fold in marshmallow creme. If centers of cupcakes have not already collapsed, gently press center with a small spoon to open cavity inside. Fill cupcakes; top with additional chocolate. Refrigerate leftovers.

STICKY PECAN UPSIDE-DOWN CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Spray 12 extra large muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray.
• Line bottoms of the muffin cups with rounds of wax paper or foil cut to fit only the bottoms of the cups; spray with the spray.
• Stir together the butter, honey and brown sugar over medium heat in a saucepan for about 2 minutes or until smooth; remove from heat and set aside.
• Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
• Beat eggs and sugar in a large bowl for about 2 minutes with a mixer on medium speed until the mixture thickens and turns a pale color.
• Add the oil, vanilla, and sour cream and beat on low speed; adding the flour mixture a little at a time until a smooth batter has developed.
• Place about 1 1/2 tablespoon of the butter, honey and brown sugar mixture into the bottom of the muffin cups.
• Add 2 tablespoons of the chopped pecans to the muffin cups.
• Top the pecans with a generous 1/3 cup of the batter.
• Place a foil lined cookie sheet under the muffin pans to catch drips and bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of one of the cupcakes comes out clean.
• Cool 2 minutes in the pans on a wire rack.
• Loosen the cupcakes from the sides of the pan with a small knife.
• Place the rack on top of the cupcakes and holding pan and rack together, invert the cupcakes onto the rack.
• Remove paper circles.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

BROWN SUGAR PECAN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 10-in. fluted tube pan., In a large bowl, cream butter, brown sugar and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and baking powder; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, beating well after each addition. Fold in pecans., Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 70-80 minutes. Cool in pan 30 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar. If desired, serve with ice cream and drizzle with topping.

BROWN SUGAR-PECAN CUPCAKES WITH CARAMEL FROSTING

Steps:

• For cupcakes:
• Put rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 350°F. Spray 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick spray; line with muffin cups.
• Whisk both flours, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt in medium bowl. Stir in chopped pecans. Beat butter in large bowl until smooth. Add brown sugar; beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating to blend between additions. Beat in sour cream and vanilla. Add dry ingredients; beat on low speed just to blend. Divide batter among muffin cups.
• Bake cupcakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 23 minutes. Cool in pan on rack 15 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool. DO AHEAD: Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover; store at room temperature.
• For frosting:
• Stir sugar and 1/4 cup water in medium saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium-high; boil until syrup turns deep amber, swirling pan and brushing down sides with wet pastry brush, 6 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat; add cream (mixture will bubble up). Stir over low heat until caramel bits dissolve. Whisk egg yolks in medium bowl. Very gradually whisk hot caramel into yolks. Cool to room temperature.
• Using electric mixer, beat butter and salt in large bowl until smooth. Beat in caramel. Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Let stand at room temperature until thick enough to spread, about 1 hour.
• Spread frosting over cupcakes. Place pecans on plate. Roll edges of cupcakes in nuts. DO AHEAD: Can be made 8 hours ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.