Moon Cycle Cupcakes Recipes

MOON CYCLE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Line a 12-hole muffin tin with 12 dark brown or black muffin cases. Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put all the ingredients in a large bowl and using a hand-held electric whisk, beat for 2-3 minutes, until fluffy.
• Divide the mixture between the muffin cases, then bake for 20 -25 minutes, until risen and springy to the touch - ask an adult to help you with this bit. When the cakes are cooked, take them out of the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely - ask an adult to help you with this bit too. You will need 8 of the cakes to make a full cycle of the moon. If you need to, you can trim the tops of the cakes so that they are flat.
• Mix 3 tbsp of the icing sugar with enough water to make a spreadable paste and set aside. Knead the blue and black fondant icing together until the colours are almost blended together, leaving a few streaks of blue running through.
• Dust a work surface with a little icing sugar and roll out the coloured icing so that it's large enough to cut out 12 x 7cm rounds. Spread a little smear of the icing sugar paste on top of each cake and stick an icing round on top.
• Roll out the white icing to about 0.5cm thick. Using a small sharp knife, cut out 2 thin crescent shapes to make the waxing and waning crescent. Using a 7cm cutter, cut out 4 rounds. Cut one round in half to make the first and third quarter of the moon. Leave one round as it is to make the full moon and cut a small crescent away from the remaining 2 rounds, to make the waxing and waning gibbous moon. Using a little of the icing paste, stick each shape on to a cake. Leave one cake with nothing on - this will be the new moon. Use a star-shaped cutter to decorate the 4 cupcakes not included in the cycle with the leftover white icing.
• Using a pastry brush, apply a tiny bit of water over the darker icing then sprinkle a little glitter over the top - the water helps it stick in place. Have fun arranging your cakes in a lunar cycle!

BANANA MOON PIE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 12 regular cupcake or muffin pans with cupcake liners.
• Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Cream the granulated sugar and shortening in a stand up mixer with a paddle attachment on low. Mix the bananas, buttermilk, vanilla and eggs until blended. Incorporate the flour mixture until blended. Do not over mix. Fill each cup three-quarters full and bake until golden brown and baked all the way through, about 18 minutes.
• Core each cupcake. Pipe the Marshmallow Cream Filling into the core. Dip the top of each cupcake into the Chocolate Coating. Generously frost each cupcake with the Marshmallow Frosting.
• Mix the creme, powdered sugar, butter and vanilla until creamy and fluffy in a stand up mixer with a paddle attachment on medium. Put the filling in a piping bag. Cut the tip of the piping bag 1/4-inch.
• Combine the chips, oil and extract in a double boiler or chocolate melting pot and set on medium temperature. Stir occasionally until smooth. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Boil 3 tablespoons water and the granulated sugar in a small saucepan over high heat. Stir constantly until the sugar has dissolved. Beat the egg whites, tartar and salt until soft peaks form in a stand up mixer with the whisk attachment. Carefully pour the hot sugar syrup into the egg whites with the mixer at medium speed. Whip the frosting until cool and billowy, about 5 minutes. Put the frosting in a medium piping bag with desired piping tip.