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Berrymisu Cupcakes

Berrymisu Cupcakes

I am back from my stressful excursion of moving houses. Let me tell you what a headache it is. I am so exhausted and now, throughly irritated because I can’t seem to reduce the amount of boxes in my house. I swear, I go through one and two more take its place.

Last night, I decided that I was going to take a break from wading through boxes and bubble wrap and write up a post. Maybe once the unpacking is all done, I will post a picture or two (I have some Instagrams if you scroll down) The most important things are taken care of: satellite TV and the internet. If you have those two going, there is peace in the house.

Anyway, here is a recipe for a cupcake. For those of you who have been following me awhile will know instantly that I never post cupcake recipes because I think that this cupcake fad has taken over the true art and skill it takes to bake a beautiful cake. But, I am not a hater, I eat cupcakes when the need arises and bake them too when requested. If a cupcake is made from scratch using fine ingredients and then delicately topped with some light frosting, they are quite amazing. I just don’t care for those piled mile high with gloppy frosting.

Berrymisu Cupcakes

There is, however, an occasion for me to be posting a recipe for cupcakes. A few weeks ago, I received an invitation to submit a cupcake recipe for the Paint it Purple Cupcake Recipe Collection project.

The Pixel Project is a virtual volunteer led non profit organisation working to end violence against women. The Paint it Purple campaign kicks off on October 1st and runs until November 24. It is to raise awareness worldwide and raise funds to end violence against women by “painting” the internet purple in creative ways.

Berrymisu Cupcakes

It’s a great cause and I am happy to offer my purple Berrymisu Cupcakes for their online collection and to speak out in support of ending violence against women. There is absolutely no reason, ever, to be violent against anyone.

Berrymisu Cupcakes

Hope you enjoy these Berrymisu Cupcakes. They are a wonderful basic sponge cake, filled with a mascarpone cream and fresh berries. They are then topped off with a light, mascarpone cream frosting.

Berrymisu Cupcakes

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Berrymisu Cupcakes

Serves: 12 cupcakes

Little Victoria sandwich cupcakes filled with mascarpone cream and fresh berries.
Ingredients
CUPCAKES
  • 1 stick/113g butter
  • ⅔ cup/150g caster/superfine sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 1¾ cups/220g all purpose/plain flour
  • 1¾ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ⅔ cup/160ml milk
MASCARPONE CREAM FROSTING
  • 8oz/227g mascarpone cheese, room temperature
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup/60g powdered sugar
  • ⅔ cup/160ml cold heavy whipping cream
FILLING
  • ½ cup mixed berries, fresh or frozen
  • ½ cup prepared mascarpone cream frosting
  • Extra fresh berries for decorating
  • White chocolate to shave over the top (optional)
Instructions
CUPCAKES
  1. Preheat the oven to 350℉/180.
  2. Prepare a 12 hole cupcake/muffin tin, line with decorative paper liners.
  3. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl and put aside.
  4. Using a mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
  5. Add the vanilla.
  6. Add the eggs one at a time. mixing well after each addition.
  7. Add a ⅓ of the flour and mix.
  8. Add ½ of the milk and beat until incorporated.
  9. Add another ⅓ of the remaining flour and blend well.
  10. Add the last bit of milk.
  11. Finish by adding the last ⅓ of the flour and mixing well to ensure an even batter.
  12. Scoop the batter into the cupcake tin, filling ¾ of the way.
  13. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and springy to the touch.
  14. Cool on a rack.
MASCARPONE CREAM FROSTING
  1. Using a hand mixer beat the mascarpone cheese until soft and smooth.
  2. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and beat till smooth.
  3. Using a whisk attachment, gradually add the heavy cream and beat until the frosting is whipped and can be piped.
  4. You may need to add more cream or sugar depending on the consistency.
  5. Chill in the fridge until needed.
  6. Have a piping bag ready if you are going to pipe on the frosting.
FILLING
  1. Mash the berries slightly so they are not so chunky.
  2. You also want the pretty blue/red colour to seep and dye the filling.
  3. Add the ½ cup of the frosting and mix together.
  4. Keep as side as you prepare the cupcakes.
  5. Take a cooled cupcake and using a sharp knife, cut a circle about 1 inch/2cm digging into the cup cake a little to make an indent for the filling.
  6. Trim the underside of the tops you cut off and keep to top off the cupcake after filling.
  7. Put a teaspoon or so of the filling inside each cupcake indent.
  8. Replace the cupcake top and press gently to smooth top a little bit.
  9. Repeat with all the cupcakes.
  10. Once all the cupcakes have been filled, they are reday to be frosted.
  11. You can spread the frosting using a small spatula or you can do fancy rosettes with a piping bag.
  12. Decorate the top with some of the reserved fresh berries and white chocolate.
Notes
Use a heavy whipping cream for the frosting. If you suspect that your cream will not whip to stiff peaks, whip the mascarpone cheese and sugar, and cream separately and combine the two.
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Berrymisu Cupcakes

While we are on the topic of violence against women, I just wanted to get on my soap box for a minute. The media is constantly going on about women and women’s rights in the Middle East, Pakistan, Afghanistan or India, and unfortunately each time Islam is blamed.

What goes on in these countries and the stories you hear about women being mistreated is all cultural. It has NOTHING to do with religion and Islam. In fact, women have many rights in Islam and we always have been far ahead of the West when it comes to women’s rights. We have always had a vote and the head covering we wear is for modesty and for our protection. We wear it so that we are judged by our brain and intelligence and not how beautiful we may be or by what we are wearing.

Women in Islam are allowed to work and they are allowed to keep all their money. The husband has to provide for the family but the wife does not have to contribute. The woman’s job in a family is to be a good wife and companion to her husband and a good mother; she does not have to cook, clean or do chores (of course we all do it, but we don’t have to!) Women in Islam do not take their husbands name. They were born with their father’s name and they continue to honour him and keep their own name and identity (I hyphenate mine so I keep everyone happy ;))

We are encouraged to go to school and further our education and knowledge as much as possible and we are also encouraged to gain knowledge throughout our life and learn continuously.

So all this nonsense you hear about women not being allowed to do such and such, please understand it’s their culture that is influencing their choices and not their religion. Most of the time the people who commit these terrible acts and enforce such ridiculous rules have no clue about Islam and are not learned in any way.

I just wanted to mention that because Islam sure gets a bad rap because of a few nut jobs who know nothing of the faith they supposedly follow.

Hope you are all having a great week! I hope to get in the kitchen soon and get cooking but my motivation and inspiration are bit dry and stressed out. Very soon, I hope!

UPDATE: I should have mentioned that these cupcakes were the last thing made at my old house! All these lovely comments where people are thinking I’m a superwoman for having made them after I moved! Nope, these were made and photographed a couple of weeks ago. xx


Comments

    • Thanks Shuhan! They did make me happy too, and doubly happy when I was eating them 🙂

  5. Thank you for the insight and clarification about Islam. It’s very easy to get caught up in the media misinformation and assume the papers are accurate. Love your photos, I’m impressed you were so organised that you made these wonderful cupcakes before you moved. GG xx
    glamorous glutton recently posted..Shopping For Spices In Abu DhabiMy Profile

    • Thanks GG! I hope that before anyone believes any of the garbage that is spewed on TV, they seek out someone for information. I really wasn’t that organised, I knew I had to make them so picked one day to do it.

  6. I’ll certainly never turn down a cupcake, but given a choice I’d rather have a slice of cake! But these looks fabulous, and for such a good cause. And you make an excellent point about how it’s the culture of some countries that tolerates mistreatment of women. Years ago I lived in Morocco for a bit, and I can attest that women there have every legal right that men had. Anyway, hope the unpacking gets done soon!
    john@kitchenriffs recently posted..Poached SalmonMy Profile

    • Thanks John! I really want people to understand that culture is so important overseas and it overshadows religion many a time. We cannot blame everything on religion.

  7. Hello Nazeen, I am delighted to hear that you made these beautiful Berrymisu before your move- really beautiful photos . Even though I know your super women, I am a still happy to know that you are not that super organised to do this wonderful post on move in day. Once you get internet hooked up the planets will realign. I am glad you got up on your soap box for a moment as the news always distorts everything. Happy unpacking and take care, BAM
    Bam’s Kitchen recently posted..Easy Peasy Chicken ItalianoMy Profile

    • Thanks Bam! There is no way I am super woman! You should’ve seen me on move in day!!

  8. Beautifully said Nazneen!
    It is so frustrating to hear about women’s rights and how much injustice they go through and blaming all that on islam. I think you explained things beautifully my friend
    Love your cupcakes and they are indeed made for a worthy cause. I have to say that I too think that baking a cake is much better than baking cup cakes 🙂

    • Thank you Sawsan. I know you understand quite well the frustrations we Muslim woman feel.

  14. So true. Islam is such a beautiful religion, with such a progressive value system – in the right hands. In the wrong hands, it can be manipulated into something it is clearly not supposed to be (much like any other religion). I don’t like icing on my cupcakes with the exception of Nigella’s cream cheese frosting recipe: http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/chocolate-guinness-cake-3086 – it’s amazing 🙂
    Jas@AbsolutelyJas recently posted..Moroccan PastaMy Profile

    • Thank you for your very kind comment Jas. You are very right about the crazies, but every religion has them. Unfortunately, the Islamic ones seem to be totally misguided.

  16. I am not much of a frosting fan either and cupcakes have loads on top, but I am sure I would enjoy this light mascarpone frosting with berries.
    On the other note Nazneen, its politics that make or break the reputation of any religions and I just hate when they do that.
    Balvinder recently posted..Hyderabadi “Mutton” BiryaniMy Profile

  17. These cupcakes, with their decorated liners, look so very festive! What a surprise to take a bite and find a bit of mascarpone cream inside. Hang in there, Nazneen. It may not seem like it but you’re making steady progress in the Battle of the Boxes. Soon everything will be in its place and you’ll settle into your new home.
    The Pixel Project sounds like a worthy cause. Unfortunately, violence against women occurs everywhere and not just “over there.” Violence of any kind is wrong but violence again women and children is especially heinous.
    ChgoJohn recently posted..Baked HaddockMy Profile

    • Thanks John! They are really good with the creamy filling. Makes the cake nice and moist too.

  18. Salaams, Nazneen.
    Beautiful cupcakes! You must be doing alright on unpacking because you were able to make them! I lose cupcake pans in moving. It’s tough. Anyways, thinking of you often, and these will be on my list to make soon. Love your soapbox. Thank you so much! I can’t stand those nutjobs. I think all the nutjobs who try to justify their abuse with Islam will really get it after this life. Any of them get found out by me are going to be put away! Hugs!
    -m

  20. Nazneen: I love the names of these cupcakes: Berramisu! Very creative indeed…When I saw one of the photos above where the cupcakes are all lined up, I thought about an invitation to devour each one of them. The first, the second, the third in line, and so on. Sorry!!! I cannot avoid such idea. They are too good looking. And these are the first wonderful treat coming from your new kitchen.
    Denise Browning@From Brazil To You recently posted..White Chocolate-Cherry Pie Bars: One is not enough!My Profile

    • Thanks Denise! I make a tiramisu that’s made with berries and I call it Berrymisu, Just took the name from that and made it into cupcakes.

  21. Love the pretty cupcakes and the brilliant cause behind making them. The sponge, berries and mascarpone together can only be divine. I still have a few boxes unopened and will not touch them till I figure out I need something out of them. Its all too exhausting. I am totally with you on your thoughts on violence against women. It is shameful that it happens even today in a big way in certain countries. Good luck with the project!
    Sugar et al recently posted..The long road home. Grilled Pumpkin, Red Onion and Feta saladMy Profile

    • Thanks Sonali! I went through the boxes and repacked some and stuck them in the garage. When I need them, I will venture out to get them.

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