Cupcake Taste Off - Frosting vrs Buttercream

cupcakes boxed up ready for a helpful taste tester

Sometimes I sit around wondering about cupcakes.

Is that normal, I'm not sure, but still I wonder. Do people prefer frosting or buttercream, chocolate or vanilla, pink or purple?

Hmmmmm........ there's really only one way to know for sure - a cupcake taste off.

So yesterday I baked up a batch of cupcakes, iced them and today have been handing them out to some very helpful testers.

Buttercream vrs Frosting

Now all the hard work is up to the testers. It's not all just eating delicious cupcakes. These dedicated testers have to try both types and then let me know which they prefer.

Italian Meringue Buttercream - Vanilla on Vanilla

Italian Meringue Buttercream vrs Old Fashioned Frosting.

Old Fashioned Frosting - Vanilla on Vanilla

I'm looking forward to hearing the results from my team of testers. Stay tuned I'll let you know the result.

M (mmmmm) is for macaroon - Rose Macaron

When I was young I used to love those really sweet Macarons made with coconut and lots of sugar.

These French Macarons are like a grown up more sophisticated version, both in looks and in the preparation. No quick one bowl mixing here.

They are melt in the mouth delicious with a crisp outside, soft center and delicious smooth creamy filling.

I have made french style macarons a few times before with excellent results using this recipe which I believe is originally based on a Pierre Herme recipe.

Recipe requires a stand mixer (Kitchen Aid type mixer), a candy thermometer, food processor, piping bags and a bit of planning and patience.


Rose Macarons

Ingredients
300g (10  5/8 ounce) ground almonds
300g (10  5/8 ounce) Icing (confectioners) Sugar
220g Egg Whites, (7 3/4ounce) aged at least 3 days, separated into 2 lots of 110g (3 7/8 ounce)
5g / dash  Red/Pink Food Colouring - (I used Gel food colour but you are supposed to use powdered)
300g (10  5/8 ounce) Granulated Sugar
75g (2 5/8 ounce) Water
a little crushed crystallised rose (optional for decoration)
1. Mix the ground almonds and icing sugar together and pulse a few times in food processor to make almond meal finer. Do not over process as the meal can become oily. Sieve into a large bowl. Add colour and 110g (3 7/8ounce) of the egg whites to the sugar/almond mixture but don’t mix in.

Icing sugar and almond meal processed and sieved

2. Place remaining 110g (3 7/8 ounce) of egg whites in bowl of mixer fitted with the whisk.

3. Pop granulated sugar and water into saucepan stir to combine and cook without stirring to 118C. Brush down the sides with a pastry brush dipped in water as required to avoid the sugar crystallizing. Once the mixture reaches 115C start mixing the egg whites on high. Once the sugar syrup reaches 118C remove from heat and immediately pour in a thin stream down the side of the mixer bowl continuing to whisk on high.

Meringue cooled and ready to mix into almond meal mixture

3. Continue to whisk the meringue on high until the side of the bowl is only a little warm to touch, around 50C.
4. Add meringue mixture to almond mixture and using a large spatula fold the mixture together until it starts to shine and forms a ribbon that stays visible for about 30 seconds.

5. Add the mixture to a piping bag fitted with a plain tip and pipe in lines onto parchment lined baking sheets. To make the macarons as even as possible I apply a constant slow pressure to the piping bag and count a few numbers like up to 3 for each one. If you like you can sprinkle a little crushed crystallised rose onto the top of half of the macarons for decoration but its not essential.

Macarons piped and resting before baking (note these are a little too puffy)

6. Set aside for about 30 minutes or until the macarons have formed a skin that doesn't stick to your finger.

7. Meanwhile preheat oven to 140C (285 F). Once ready bake the macaroons for around 13 to 15 minutes depending on size, they should not be browned. Remove the baking trays and immediately slide off the macarons and the parchment onto the work surface and let cool completely before removing the shells.

Macarons baked and cooling on the bench still on parchment paper

8. Once cooled match disks into like sizes and sandwich together using the rose ganache.

Rose White Chocolate Ganache

100ml cream
200 gm (7 ounces) white chocolate
3 tsp rose water
pink food colouring - I used Wilton gel colours

Bring cream to boil, pour over finely chopped white chocolate and stand 5 mins. Stir until all chocolate has melted and mixture is glossy mix in rosewater and food colour. Chill approx 45 mins and use as required.

Mothers Day idea - Old Fashioned Rose Cordial

Rose would have to be one of my all time favourite flavours.

This is a lovely old fashioned recipe I have had for years to make a rose cordial which can be mixed with water, sparkling mineral water or lemonade (US readers insert 7up or other clear soda type drink here).

Just perfect for a Mother's Day afternoon tea refresher. Or if you have young kids it makes a lovely 'Rosey Tea' just right for a Wiggles inspired Dorothy tea party.


Rose 'Cordial' Recipe

Take 4 pesticide free red roses (roses from your garden which have not been sprayed are suitable) and remove the petals. Try to use fragrant roses. One of my roses was apricot not red, but try to use as many red as possible as this makes the best coloured syrup.


My roses made approx 3 loosely packed cups. Carefully wash petals and add to a small saucepan with 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar.


Bring to boil and then reduce to simmer for 10 minutes. Leave to steep for 20 minutes until cool.



Strain through a fine sieve and then mix in 1 tablespoon (US 1 Tbsp plus 1 tsp) of rosewater. Rosewater available through deli's or specialty food stores.



When ready to use add to 2 litres of water, sparkling mineral water or lemonade (clear soda) or to taste.

This drink looks pretty served in a jug with ice cubes that have been frozen with petals, small edible flowers or berries.