Chocolate Cupcakes with Goat Cheese Frosting and Red Wine Reduction

Recipe

• Created By: Ty
• Inspired By: Hercules claiming that there's "lots of good food" at Bacchus's Cavern. - 1.19 - The Lure of the Lyre
• Yield: 15-18 cupcakes

Ingredients

• 4 ounces unsalted butter, room temp.
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2t. vanilla bean paste -you can also use vanilla extract
• 1 & 1/2 cups AP flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1t. baking soda
• 1/2t. salt
• 1/2 cup coffee
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• Goat Cheese Frosting
  • 16 ounces goat cheese
  • 1/4 cup + 2T. light brown sugar
  • 1t. vanilla bean paste
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• Red Wine Reduction
  • 1 cup red wine – I used a sweet red wine, use one you like to drink.

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Make coffee and set aside.
• Cream butter and sugars till light and fluffy.
• Add egg and vanilla.
• Sift dry ingredients together.
• Alternate adding the dries with the coffee and buttermilk.
• Fill cupcake pans and bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes rotating once halfway through.

• Goat Cheese Frosting
  • Cream goat cheese, light brown sugar, and vanilla on medium speed till creamy.
  • Whip heavy cream and powdered sugar till stiff.
  • Fold whipped cream into goat cheese mixture and refrigerate till ready to use.

• Red Wine Reduction
  • Bring wine up to a boil and then lower heat to medium-low and let simmer down to about 1/4 cup liquid. It takes about 12-14 minutes to reduce and get syrupy. Make sure you keep a close eye on it!
  • Make sure it is completely cool before you spoon it on the frosting.

Other Links

Flirt With Dessert: Chocolate and Goat Cheese Cupcakes