Cakes

tiramisu cupcakes

There the email appeared in my inbox from a dear friend. My world has forever changed, it is crashing, crashing. Life will never be the same for me. I walked away from the screen with a cloud of chaos hanging over me, struck again, [and again! and again!] at how short, how fragile, how bittersweet are our travels on this earth. Here, on one side of the winding road, are things so lovely, so good. I turn my head to the other, and there is so much loss, so much heartbreak. They are both with us, side by side, working fast and furious every moment. One day beauty shines like the brightest sun, and the next not even Galadriel’s phial* can shine as the darkness covers us.I was taught at a young age to walk the narrow road and great things would find me, to not stray and my cup would always be full. But now, as I look back at the marks left behind, I find it’s a much more complicated affair. The walk of life is not so much a road but a slender path, a tightrope of sorts that I must find balance on. I have no choice but to walk it, watching the rope weave itself together as I step; winding itself with all the hurt and all the beauty this world has to offer. I see myself as a carefree child, my days filled with joy, then here I am a broken young girl, my nights filled with weeping. My sister and I sit on the worn couch while my father reads to us, but now we are sitting on cold, hard pews, burying the most precious little life. There are arms that know me and hold me close, but there are moments where I am so alone, and what I find inside myself is hard to face. Somehow, I must find the courage to embrace what the rope will fold into it’s strands, letting it shape and guide me. I must always walk that line, whether gracefully or on hands and knees.

 *You can read more about the Phial of Galadriel here.
Tiramisu Cupcakes
I highly recommend letting the syrup soak into the cupcakes overnight – these cupcakes can handle the soak without getting mushy. The flavor is much better! I accidentally made these with 2 tablespoons rum instead of the 4. I thought it could have used more rum, but my family liked them not-so-boozy. I recommend starting with 4 tablespoons and then adding more if you like a stronger tiramisu. The recipe said it would make 18 cupcakes, but I got 14.
cupcakes
1 1/4 cups cake flour, sifted
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 cup milk
1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise, seeds scraped and reserved
4 tablespoons [1/2 stick] unsalted butter, room temperature and cut into pieces
3 large whole eggs plus 3 egg yolks, room temperature
1 cup sugar
cocoa powder, for dusting
Preheat oven to 325. Line standard size muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Heat milk and the vanilla bean pod and seeds over medium just until small bubbles appear around the edges. Whisk in butter until melted, and let sit for 15 minutes. Discard vanilla bean pod.
With a mixer on medium speed, whisk together whole eggs, yolks, and sugar. Place the mixing bowl over a pan of simmering water, and whisk by hand until the sugar is dissolved and mixture is warm, about 6 minutes. Place bowl back in the mixer, and whisk until mixture is fluffy, pale yellow, and thick enough to hold a ribbon on the surface for several seconds when the whisk is lifted.
Gently fold the flour mixture into the egg mixture in three batches. Stir 1/2 cup of the batter into the milk mixture to thicken, then fold milk mixture into the remaining batter until just combined.
Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling three quarters full. Bake, rotating halfway through, until centers are completely set and edges are a light golden brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely before removing from muffin tin.
When cool, brush tops of cupcakes evenly with the coffee-rum syrup; repeat until all the syrup has been used. Allow cupcakes to absorb liquid for several hours [overnight is best]. Frost cupcakes with frosting, and dust generously with cocoa powder just before serving.
coffee-rum syrup
1/3 cup freshly brewed very strong coffee [or espresso]
4 tablespoons black strap rum [or other dark rum]
1/4 cup sugar
Stir together coffee, rum, and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Let cool.
mascarpone frosting
1 cup heavy cream
8 ounces mascarpone cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar, sifted
With a mixer, whisk heavy cream on medium speed until stiff peaks form, do not overbeat. In another bowl, whisk together mascarpone and confectioner’s sugar until smooth. Gently fold whipped cream into mascarpone mixture until completely incorporated. Use immediately.
  • Reply
    Joy
    Monday, July 24, 2017 at 9:06 pm

    Hello there! Such prettiness! Quick question … if I were to use AP flour instead of cake flour, how would you suggest changing the recipe?

  • Reply
    Rebekka Seale
    Monday, April 16, 2012 at 11:52 am

    This post is really sweet. Thank God for treats 🙂

  • Reply
    Nikki
    Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 3:53 pm

    Beautifully and eloquently written. Life really isn’t so simple, isn’t it. So sorry for the difficult days, friend. (p.s. the recipe looks amazing, too!)

  • Reply
    Sacha
    Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 12:55 am

    Sarah, I’m so sorry to hear you are going through a difficult time. I hope reading, writing, family, and, yes, baking pulls you through.

    Beautiful words, beautiful cupcakes.

  • Reply
    Kasey
    Friday, April 13, 2012 at 11:55 pm

    Thinking of you in a difficult time…Every day should be a reminder that the small details don’t matter so much as the grander scheme..It’s hard to accept the bittersweet nature of our walk, but it’s true…such is the story of life. xo

  • Reply
    Megan Pence
    Friday, April 13, 2012 at 1:46 pm

    Sarah, you’ve got such a gift with words. I hope that these troubled times pass quickly and brighter times lay ahead.

    And maybe a cupcake or two will help bring about a small shining spot, even momentarily. (Yes, I feed my emotions with food – esp. cupcakes). ~Megan

  • Reply
    mineral forest
    Friday, April 13, 2012 at 3:37 am

    I only found you weeks ago, but feel like I’ve known you for ages. Very intense, from the prose & poetry to the depth of flavor, so so moving.

  • Reply
    Laura
    Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 11:34 pm

    Sarah, this post got me in the gut. Striking, beautiful, heavy and poignant. Thanks so much for sharing it all. Hope your corner of the world gets a bit brighter soon.

    Oh, and stunning photographs and perfect Kerouac quote too. So glad to come to this space time and again 🙂

  • Reply
    Melody
    Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 10:01 pm

    Much love to you, friend.

  • Reply
    thelittleloaf
    Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 8:55 pm

    Thinking of you in these troubled times…

    On another note, these cupcakes look and sound incredible.

  • Reply
    Bev Weidner (Bev Cooks)
    Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 8:31 pm

    If I baked, I would make these for my hubs’ birthday today! They. are. so. stinkin’. pretty.

  • Reply
    Elaina @ Flavour
    Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 7:35 pm

    Beautiful words…once again you leave me speechless. Beautiful…all of it! x

  • Reply
    london bakes
    Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 7:19 pm

    So very very true. Thinking of you all.

  • Reply
    erin
    Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 7:13 pm

    I love everything about this post, Sarah. The words, the photos, and the Kerouac quote just perfect and oh so true.

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