Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes with Cheesecake Frosting Topped with Mini Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes with Cheesecake Frosting topped with Mini Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes:

2 cups cake flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 TBSP baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 cups granulated sugar

5 large eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/4 cup buttermilk

Filling:

½ cup brown sugar

2 TBSP cinnamon

Cinnamon Sugar Coating:

1 cup granulated sugar

2 TBSP cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350°F . Butter two 12 cup muffin pans. Place a TBSP of cinnamon sugar coating in each cup and swirl around until the sides and bottom are covered in the coating. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flours, baking powder, and salt.

Cut up the butter into 1-inch pieces and place them in the large bowl of an electric mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment or beaters. Beat for 3 minutes on MEDIUM-HIGH speed until the butter is light and creamy in color. Stop and scrape the bowl. Cream the butter for an additional 60 seconds.

Add the sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, beating 1 minute after each addition. Scrape the sides of the bowl occasionally. Add the eggs one at a time.

Reduce the mixer speed. Stir vanilla into the buttermilk. Add the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk. Mix just until incorporated. Scrape the sides of the bowl and mix for 15 seconds longer.

Spoon batter a 1/3 of the way up the muffin cup. Place 1 tsp. of brown sugar filling inside. Spoon another 1/3 of the way up. Using a butter knife, swirl the filling around in the cupcakes.

Center the pans onto the lower third of the oven and let bake 15-18 minutes or until the cake is lightly brown on top and comes away from the sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cake recipe adapted from Epicurious.com

Cheesecake Frosting

12 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

1 slice cheesecake, bottom removed, at room temperature

¾ cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or a bowl and a mixer) beat the cream cheese and cheesecake on medium-high speed for 3 minutes. Add sugar, and beat another three minutes, until super smooth.

Add vanilla and lemon juice and beat another 30 seconds.

Chill in fridge for 20 minutes. Pipe or spread frosting onto cupcakes.

The Mini Cinnamon Rolls are just a smaller version of these cinnamon rolls, minus the frosting. If you choose to make them. I made a half batch, just bake up the bread for french toast or what not. They take about 16-18 minutes to bake up depending on the size. Mine were all about the size of quarter on steriods before I started, the of course grow bigger in the oven. You could also just use refrigerator rolls if you were in a hurry ( I wont tell anyone)

recipe found at: www.culinaryconcoctionsbypeabody.com