Peach Bellini Cupcakes Recipe

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When the sun warms the earth and peaches hang heavy on their branches, it’s time to bring the essence of summer into your kitchen with Peach Bellini Cupcakes. These delightful treats encapsulate the joy of a lazy afternoon, combining the sweet, juicy allure of fresh peaches with the effervescent charm of champagne. Each cupcake is a miniature celebration, featuring a tender crumb studded with peach pieces, a core of rich champagne pastry cream, and a swirl of peach-flavored buttercream frosting that’s as light and airy as a summer cloud.

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes:

  • 6 large egg whites, the base of our airy sponge
  • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to the touch of sunlight
  • 1½ cups granulated sugar, sweet as a summer day
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted like fine beach sand
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder, the lift behind our cupcakes’ rise
  • 1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt, a whisper of the ocean
  • ¾ cup champagne or prosecco, the sparkle of celebration
  • 2/3 cup fresh peaches, diced into joyous bursts of flavor (canned peaches can step in if needed)

For the Champagne Pastry Cream:

  • ½ cup heavy cream, divided, the base of our luscious filling
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch, the magic that thickens dreams
  • 1 whole egg + 2 egg yolks, the golden essence of richness
  • 5 tablespoons granulated sugar, to sweeten the memories
  • ½ cup champagne or prosecco, for a hint of festivity
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, to smooth the edges
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, a dash of classic elegance

For the Peach Buttercream:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature, whipped into clouds
  • 6 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted like powdered snow
  • Milk or cream, as needed, to achieve perfect consistency
  • ½ teaspoon LorAnn peach flavoring oil (or 2 tablespoons peach schnapps), the essence of summer
  • Chefmaster food colors: neon brite yellow, neon brite orange, and red red, to paint the sunset
  • 2 tablespoons white nonpareils, the sparkle of champagne bubbles
  • Fresh mint leaves for garnish (optional), a touch of greenery

Directions

Cupcake Creation:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and dress your cupcake pans in their finest liners.
  2. In the ballet of baking, first whisk egg whites to stiff peaks, like whitecaps on a summer lake. Cream together butter and sugar until they’re as fluffy as a cloud on a sunny day. Introduce the dry ingredients and champagne in turns to the creamed mixture, dancing together in harmony. Fold in the egg whites and diced peaches with the gentleness of a summer breeze.
  3. Bake for 18-22 minutes, until a tester emerges clean, like a swimmer from clear waters. Let them cool, basking in the anticipation of delight.

Pastry Cream Journey:

  1. Begin by whisking a potion of some cream, cornstarch, and eggs. Warm the remaining cream with sugar and champagne, then blend with the egg mixture. Cook this alchemy until it thickens into a custard, rich with tales of feasts and fêtes. Stir in butter and vanilla, then let it cool before it takes its place in the refrigerator to chill, like a guest awaiting the ball.

Buttercream Dreams:

  1. In the realm of mixers, beat together butter and confectioners’ sugar, adding just enough milk or cream to reach the consistency of soft whispers. Infuse with peach flavoring, stirring in the essence of orchards basking in sunlight. Color as you wish, painting with the hues of dawn and dusk.

Assembly of Joy:

  1. With a gentle hand, remove a small section from each cupcake and cradle a spoonful of pastry cream inside. Replace the cake ‘lid’ like a secret waiting to be discovered.
  2. Prepare your buttercream palette and paint the inside of a piping bag with red gel color for the blush of a peach. Pipe the buttercream onto each cupcake, then scatter the white nonpareils like pearls. A mint leaf, should you choose, is the final flourish, the green of leaves against a summer sky.

Pro Tips for Perfection

  • Embrace the season with fresh peaches for a burst of flavor, but know that canned peaches can also capture the essence of summer.
  • Room temperature ingredients blend with ease, creating a batter as smooth as a calm sea.
  • Precision in measuring flour ensures cupcakes that are light and tender, like the touch of a gentle wave.
  • Decorate your cupcakes as soon

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