Strawberry Wine Cupcakes
Recipe Date: July 4th, 2020
Difficulty: Easy
Measurements: Imperial (US)
Strawberry Rosé Wine Cupcakes Recipe
From Pastry Tales
Our friends from Pastry Tales bless us with another amazing dessert recipe. These strawberry cupcakes feature our fan favorite La Fantasia, an ideal match for the Frizzante-Style Rose. These soft vanilla cupcakes are filled with a homemade wine strawberry curd and topped with a delicious wine strawberry whipped cream frosting.
Ingredients
For the vanilla cupcakes
1 and 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 and 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature. Do not use oil. Oil will make your cupcakes greasy and dense.
1 cup white granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup Greek yogurt (plain)
For the strawberry wine curd
1 lb of fresh strawberries, chopped in small pieces
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
3/4 cup white granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup La Fantasia wine (or any other pink sweet wine)
4 egg yolks
For the frosting
1 cup heavy whipping cream cream
1/2-2/3 cup cup powdered sugar (it’s up to you how sweet you want the frosting to be)
1/4 cup La Fantasia wine (or any other sweet pink wine)
1/2 cup strawberry puree (puree them in a blender)
For the sugar coated strawberries
14 small/medium size fresh strawberries. Please use ripe strawberries BUT NOT SOFT.
1/2 cup La Fantasia wine (or any other sweet pink wine)
1/2 cup white granulated sugar
Instructions
For the curd
1.- Place wine strawberries, wine and ¼ cup of sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil on medium high heat cook for 10 minutes, until the fruit is broken down. You can use a potato mash to break down the strawberries too. Pass the mixture through a sieve and allow to cool for about 5 minutes. We are using a sieve so we can catch all the little seeds or thick skin that didn’t cook.
2.- While the strawberries are cooling, make the egg mixture : In a small saucepan, whisk the egg yolks, butter, cornstarch and remaining sugar. Pour in strawberry mixture and place on medium heat stirring constantly. Allow to cook, continually stirring, until thickened to a custard-like consistency then remove from heat. Pass this mixture through a sieve and allow to cool it completely to room temperature. Place it in the fridge for about 2 hours or more. We are using a sieve here again because we want to catch any leftover yok that did not cook very well.
-Your filling/curd is done, now let’s make the sugar coated strawberries-
For the sugar coated strawberries
1.- Wash your strawberries, dry them with paper towel. Place strawberries in a shallow container and cover them with 1/2 cup of La Fantasia or any other sweet rose wine. Cover the container with plastic wrap or lid and refrigerate for 1 hour or 1 hour and a half.
2.- Drain strawberries and lightly dry them. If you want, you can reserve the liquid so you use it for the frosting. Place them on the top of a small baking sheet or shallow dish and roll them in the white granulated sugar. Place them the baking sheet/dish in the freezer until ready to use. Do not leave your strawberries at room temperature because the sugar can melt.
-Your sugar strawberries are done, now let’s make the vanilla cupcakes-
For the cupcakes
1.- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a regular size muffin pan with cupcake liners. Set aside.
2.- In a small bowl mix flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
3.- In a big bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter for 2 minutes. Then, add sugar slowly and mix in medium speed for 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add eggs one by one mixing well after each addition.
4.- Add in vanilla. Mix. Add in yogurt. Mix for 1 minute.
5.- Add in dry ingredients and mix in low speed until you don’t see any leftover flour. Be careful to not over mix the batter.
6.- Fill your cupcake liners just until 1/2 full, I like to use an ice cream scoop, it works great. Bake for 20 minutes aprox. or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cupcake comes out clean or with a few dry crumbs.
7.- Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Then, transfer the cupcakes to a cooking rack to cool completly.
-Cupcakes are done, wait till they are all cooled off and then start with the frosting-
Please Note
When the cupcakes are all cooled off, using a pairing knife cut the centers so you can fill them with the curd . You should make all this before you start making the frosting. Begin by cutting a small circle on the top , cutting about 2/3 down into the thickness of the cupcake. Be sure to not cut all the way down and take out the core.
Then, fill that hole with the strawberry curd. Just use a small spoon. You won’t need to cover the top of the hole with some of the core you took off. But if you want to, you can do it.
For the frosting
For the frosting you have 2 options: Use fresh strawberry puree or you can cook down the strawberries to get rid of some of the moisture so your frosting is not too runny. If you decide to cook down the strawberries, follow the directions since number 1 otherwise jump to number 3. I decided to cook down the strawberries and my frosting was better than using just fresh strawberries.
1.- Place your strawberries in a blender and puree until creamy. Pass this mixture through a sieve so you can discard the seeeds.
2.- Add the strawberry puree to a small saucepan and cook over medium heat. Bring it to a boil and continue cooking to reduce it to 1/4 cup. This will take you about 15 minutes. When your mixture has reduced and thickened pour it into a small container and let it cool, you can place it in the fridge to cool it faster.
3-. When cooled, add the strawberry mixture, heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar to a large mixer bowl. For the first minute whip in low speed. Add wine (or some of the liquid you reserve from the sugar coated strawberries) and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes and then high speed until the mixture holds nice peaks. Place this mixture in the fridge until you are ready to frost.
4.- Using a piping bag and a tip (I used Wilton 1 M), frost your cupcakes. Place one sugar coated strawberry on the top.
Remember – Keep your sugar coated strawberries in the freezer until ready to serve. These strawberry rosé wine cupcakes are the best the same day or the day after that you make them.
Enjoy and cheers!
Related Products – La Fantasia
Strawberry Fantasia Cake
Recipe Date: September 28th, 2018
Difficulty: Easy
Measurements: Imperial (US)
Strawberry Fantasia Rosé Wine Cake
From Pastry Tales
Ingredients
For the cake layers
- 2 cups cake flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 sticks (10 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1 large egg yolk room temperature
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup buttermilk room temperature
For the filling
- 1 lb fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1/2 cup La Fantasia rosé wine
For the frosting
- 1 1/2 cups cold heavy whipped cream
- 3 tablespoons of powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup La Fantasia rosé wine
*If you want the frosting to be sweeter, you can add more sugar.
Directions
For the cake layers
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 9 inch round cake pans, dust the insides with flour, and tap out the excess. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper.
- Sift together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Working with a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until soft and creamy. Add the sugar and beat for another 4 minutes. Add the eggs one by one, and then the yolk, beating for 1 minute after each addition. Beat in the vanilla; don’t be concerned if the mixture looks curdled. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk, adding the dry ingredients in 3 additions and the milk in 2 (begin and end with the dry ingredients); mix only until the ingredients disappear into the batter. Divide the batter evenly between the two pans.
- Bake for 28 to 30 minutes. When fully baked, the cakes will be golden and a thin knife inserted into the centers will come out clean. Transfer the cakes to a rack and cool for about 5 minutes, unmold them, and peel off the paper liners. Invert and cool to room temperature right-side up.
For the filling
- Put sliced strawberries in a shallow container and pour the wine over it.
- Cover and let it rest in the fridge for about an hour.
For the frosting
- Using both a chilled bowl and chilled beaters, beat the cream until frothy. Add the powdered sugar and wine gradually while beating. Whip until the cream holds soft peaks.
*If you see the frosting gets too thin, don’t add more wine.
*If the frosting looks as if it might be a little too soft to spread over the cake, press a piece of plastic wrap against its surface and refrigerate it for 15 minutes. You can refrigerate the cake too.
To assemble
It’s very important that if the tops of the cake layers have crowned, you should use a serrated knife to even them. Place one layer right-sight up on a cake plate. Using a brush or a spoon, soak the layer with some La Fantasia rosé wine. Spread some of the whipped cream frosting and add some of the strawberry filling. Put the second cake layer on the counter and brush the top of it with some La Fantasia rosé wine, then turn the layer over and position it, soaked side down, over the filling. Frost all the cake with the remaining whipped cream. You can decorate the top with fresh strawberries or you can use the leftover filling. Refrigerate it for an hour and then serve.
Enjoy!
Related Products
La Fantasia Summer - Chilled Rosé Wine Drink Recipe
Mary Davidek
La Fantasia Summer – Chilled Rosé Wine Drink Recipe
I hate the heat. I do. I cannot mince words or flower this up— at all. I also acknowledge as a native Californian I am not the greatest barometer for uncomfortable temperatures. I am too hot when temps soar above 90 and too cold when the mercury dips below 60. I guess as grapes are concerned, I would be Pinot Noir; a little fickle and I respond to temperature extremes. Precisely why Pinot Noir is not prolific in Napa Valley. …summers can get hot!
Napa Valley is a Mediterranean climate which among other climate indicators translates to a long growing season due an optimum diurnal variation necessary for yielding successful wine grapes. A diurnal variation, or the difference between daytime and night time temps of almost 35 degrees means the sugars in the grape go into semi hibernation in the evenings thus arresting or slowing the ripening process. Even when the valley floor reaches 95 degrees, nighttime ushers in a welcome cool down courtesy of the big air conditioning to the west, the Pacific Ocean. Most evenings warrant a wrap or light sweater when dining al fresco or while watching star-filled nights unfold.
Lucky Napa Valley! Less than 5% of earth’s land surface is blessed with this amazing mediterranean climate!
These evening temps are a welcome reprieve but I just can’t get past the heat and the constant craving for something cool and refreshing on my palate. My shopping cart at the grocery store has been jam-packed with fresh summer fruit, thirst quenching beverages and frozen treats. Luckily, our appetites also diminish a bit when the temps soar so refreshing fruit and veggie platters have been consumed with enthusiasm. Dessert? Well, that is simply a no-brainer—enter the simple and delicious Fantatini! A deliciously refreshing and chilled summer rosé wine drink. Made with lightly effervescent and slightly sweet La Fantasia. Simply pour over a frozen fruit sorbet and this yummy chilled finale is the perfect respite.
So chill it down…and when old man winter brings on the big chill-down (it may actually get below 60!), we will have to come up with another excuse to partake in this tasty concoction.
Frizzante-style La Fantasia is a proprietary blend of red grapes and is a perennial favorite. Just a bit of effervescence brightens the fruit notes of this lightly sweet wine.
A sweet finale on the Castello di Amorosa Royal Pairing, the Fantatini. Recipe?… Simple. Scoop and pour!
Rosé - A Dozen Pairings Picked
Mary Davidek
Meet Mary
Rosé – A Dozen Pairings Picked
If you’ve attended the Royal Food and Wine Pairing at Castello di Amorosa it comes as no surprise –you know my affection for Gioia, Castello di Amorosa’s Rosato of Sangiovese. Perhaps one of the most versatile food wines available as the pairing possibilities for a well-made rosé are seemingly endless. Traditionally, rosé wines are dry, light, and fruity and carry appeal for white and red wine drinkers. Any black-skinned grape can be made into a blush or rosé wine. The longer the skins remain in contact with the juice and pulp, the more pigment is imparted and, thus, the redder the juice or wine becomes. Rosé is produced by limiting the contact of the skins of black grapes with the juice; for Gioia, it is approximately 36 hours. As we weather the dog-days of summer and celebrate with picnics, grill parties and backyard entertaining, Rosé indeed seems to be on everybody’s mind…and palate. This is a perfect opportunity to explore the aforementioned ‘pairing possibilities’.
Let’s put my theory to the test…let the pairings begin!
Castello di Amorosa’s Gioia, Rosato of Sangiovese has a bright and beautiful salmon colored hue. Serve this chilled rosé with tasty apps or a light and seasonal dinner.
Full-bodied rosé wines are a great match for terrines, pate, and Italian salumi. The fruit notes of Gioia compliment the gamey meats and the acidity provides just enough ‘zip’ to cut through the fattiness of these tasty selections.
Roasted red pepper hummus is a yummy app with a chilled rosé.
Olive-based tapenades with anchovies, capers and light vinegar are prolific in Italian cuisine. The saltiness of the olives is a perfect back drop for fruity Gioia.
Forget the margaritas! Salsa provides a hint (or a lot!) of spice—cool crisp Gioia with the tomatoes and cilantro atop a salty tortilla chip is delicious. Yo tengo chips and salsa!
No time to make a caprese salad..no problem. Caprese bites are a quick and easy alternative.
A favorite on the Royal Food and Wine Pairing menu, cream of tomato basil soup. A touch of cumin adds Mediterranean flair and chilled Gioia is a refreshing contrast to this warming comfort soup.
Margherita Pizza is named for the first Queen of modern Italy, Margherita De Savoia-(l85l-l926). Margherita pizza is a thin crust pizza with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. For a peppery freshness, try it topped with leaves of arugula. Thank you Queen Margherita, you would have loved this pizza with Castello’s Italian style Rosato of Sangiovese, Gioia.
Hot wings and Gioia was my husband’s favorite pairing. This duo takes me back to circa 1985 ordering buffalo wings and a bottle of chilled white Zin! I was definitely on to something—fruit and spice makes everything nice!
Pasta with marinara sprinkled with Asiago and served with Gioia was a simple meal on a hot summer evening.
Research suggests that eating oily fish once or twice a week may increase your lifespan by more than two years and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease up to 35 percent. That combined with a relaxing glass of wine and we may have found the fountain of youth! I loved the grilled smokiness of the delicate salmon meat which was complemented by the crisp berry burst of Gioia. This healthy pairing was incredible; grilled sockeye salmon from our friends at Great Alaska Seafood http://www.great-alaska-seafood.com
A cool watermelon salad tossed in cold pressed grape seed oil and light vinaigrette. Flavorful red onion and a few crumbles of feta combine for a surprising palate of sweet, salty and tangy. Castello di Amorosa’s Gioia completed this palate of fruity crispness.
Kanpai! Talk about a mixed marriage! Rosé is a natural for exotic spices.