Sugar hard hats are required for entry to this kitchen. # 390: Raspberry Crème Brûlée Cupcakes

Continuing with the comfort baking trend as my due date creeps ever closer, we’ve got a classic vanilla cupcake filled with pastry cream and topped with caramelized sugar. What, you don’t find mini blow torches comforting? Strange.

The raspberry comes from flavored black tea, so no bright pretty pinks coming through. C’est la vie! They’re embracing the aesthetic of shiny rocks. A golden nugget? I’ll work on it.

I haven’t had many cravings or food preferences during this pregnancy, but recently pudding and custard have been immediate yeses. So while these cupcakes could have just had a custard topping, adding in a secret pocket of custard as well was a no brainer. The more custard the merrier!

I’m working my way through a little container of vanilla bean paste I got for Christmas before hopping back into my giant bottle of homemade vanilla. The only differences seem to be that this brand has sugar mixed in, and it gives a vanilla-bean-freckle look to whatever I’m baking.

Going for that happy middle ground between fluffy crumb and enough stability to support custard and a sugar hard hat.

I got the baking bug at 5pm so I was racing against the sunset for some decent light. Very ready for some super long sunny days!

While oiling and flouring the pan worked great, it gave the cupcakes a toastier look than I wanted. Next time, I’ll use paper liners and just take them off before serving.

Pudding time. *happy dance*

Shhh, the tea is steeping.

Off for a fridge nap.

And with the snap of my fingers, it’s the next day. Baking magic!

Moment of truth: is the custard sturdy enough to do a handstand into a bowl of sprinkles?

Delaying the potential for failure by topping all the cupcakes first and getting photo evidence of their existence.

Success!! I went for larger sugar sprinkles instead of granulated sugar. But for no real reason – I used granulated sugar for the crème brûlée rice pudding tarts and it worked fine.

Ready to smash it with a hammer! *Said in my best Ezma voice*

Cracked this one as neat and tidily as I could for the picture, but the rest got shattered with joyful abandon.

Happy munching!

Cake recipe from: https://scientificallysweet.com/creme-brulee-cupcakes/