Mini Chip Buttercream Recipes

GHIRARDELLI MINI GINGERBREAD-CHOCOLATE CHIP CUPCAKES WITH MOLASSES BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Prepare the Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place flour, crystallized ginger, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cloves in a food processor; process until ginger is finely ground, about 1 minute.
• Beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with a heavy-duty stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in applesauce until blended. Add eggs one at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
• Stir together hot brewed coffee and molasses in a 2-cup glass measuring cup until blended. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with coffee mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat on low speed just until blended after each addition. Gently stir in Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Chips.
• Place 48 miniature paper baking cups in four 12-cup miniature muffin pans, and coat cups with cooking spray. Spoon batter into cups, filling almost full.
• Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 12 to 14 minutes. Remove from pan to a wire rack and cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Prepare the Molasses Buttercream: Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth; beat in molasses and salt until fully incorporated, about 1 minute. Gradually add powdered sugar and 3 tablespoons of the milk; beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. If needed, add remaining 1 tablespoon milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, and beat until desired consistency is reached.
• Prepare the Chocolate Trees: Place 1 cup Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Chips in a small microwaveable bowl, and microwave on medium (50% power) until melted and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Transfer mixture to a piping bag or heavy-duty zip-top bag with a very small hole snipped in the corner.
• Pipe into small Christmas tree shapes on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Chill until set, about 15 minutes; keep chilled until ready to use.
• Pipe or dollop Molasses Buttercream on cupcakes. Garnish with finely chopped crystallized ginger, and top with chocolate Christmas trees.

MINI CHIP BUTTER CRISPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt.
• In a large mixing bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy.
• Gradually beat in sugar and vanilla.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients and blend until smooth.
• Stir in chocolate chips.
• Shape dough into 1 inch balls.
• Place 12 at a time, on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Flatten out to circles about 2 inches in diameter with the bottom of a glass dipped in flour.
• Bake 10 minutes, or until desired crispness.
• Remove from baking sheets, let cool on wire racks.

MINI CHOCOLATE CHIP SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cream shortening and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Chill dough for 1 hour., Shape teaspoonfuls of dough into 1-inch balls. Place 1-1/2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until edges begin to brown, 8-10 minutes. Cool on pans 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely., Meanwhile, for filling, split vanilla bean lengthwise. Using a sharp knife, scrape seeds from center into top of a double boiler over simmering water; discard bean. Add egg whites, granulated sugar and vanilla extract. Whisking constantly, heat mixture until sugar is dissolved and a thermometer reads 160°, 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment., Whisk egg white mixture on high until it cools to room temperature, 8-10 minutes. Reduce speed to medium; gradually add butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition. Increase speed to high; beat until smooth., To assemble, transfer filling to a reusable pastry bag. Pipe about 1 teaspoon on bottoms of half of the cookies; cover with remaining cookies. Store in airtight containers.

BROWN BUTTER-CHOCOLATE CHIP MINI POUND CAKES

Steps:

• Place butter into a small light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Cook, swirling pan frequently, until brown bits form on the bottom of the pan, and the butter begins to smell nutty, about 10 minutes. Immediately pour butter into a large mixing bowl, and allow to cool slightly.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a mini Bundt® pan.
• Whisk together flour, salt, and nutmeg in a small bowl.
• Add brown sugar and white sugar to the bowl with brown butter. Mix butter and sugars together until thoroughly combined. Add in eggs, 1 at a time, mixing very well after each addition. Mix in vanilla. Add in half of the flour mixture, mixing until just combined. Add in sour cream, mixing until just combined. Add in remaining flour mixture, and mix until just combined. Fold in mini chocolate chips.
• Divide batter evenly between the mini Bundt® cavities.
• Place pan into the preheated oven and bake until the cakes spring back lightly when touched, 15 to 20 minutes. Allow cakes to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

MINI CHIP BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Cream together butter and shortening.
• Alternatively add confectioner's sugar and milk to create desired consistency.
• Beat in extracts.
• Beat in mini chocolate chips.