Tiramisu Mini Cupcakes

I am yet to make a proper Tiramisu, but this comes close to my favourite recipe. For now anyway =) This takes a bit more effort than normal cupcakes because of all the layering and decorating - but if you love cheese and coffee like me, it's worth every minute perfecting it! What's best about it? It's bite-sized, and tastes oh so good!



There are three parts to this recipe: the basic vanilla cupcake, the cream cheese filling, and the coffee syrup.

Basic Vanilla Mini Cupcakes

1/3 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 egg
1 cup self-raising flour, sifted
1/3 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla essence

1. Preheat oven to 160'C. Line a 24 mini-cupcake pan.
2. Use electric beater to cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add flour, milk, egg and vanilla, and beat with electric mixer on medium until well combined.
4. Divide mixture evenly into the pan, bake for 10-15mins until firm to touch. Allow to cool fully before putting it together.

Coffee Syrup

Mix together:
1Tbs coffee powder
1/2 cup hot water
3 Tbs sugar
2 Tbs brandy/Kahlua (optional)

*Allow to cool before use.

Cream Cheese filling

Whip together:
170g cream cheese @ room temp.
3 tbs thickened cream
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1-1/2 cup icing powder (depending on how sweet you like it)

Now the fun part!

1. Cut a neat round cone off the top of cupcake.
2. Pour 1 tsp of coffee syrup into the pit, then fill pit with cream cheese.
   
3. Soak the tip of the cone cut-out with coffee syrup and put it back in place on top of the cream cheese.
   
4. Spoon or pipe more cream cheese on top, sprinkle cocoa and/or coffee powder to finish off.
5. Repeat with the rest of the cupcakes!

Practise makes perfect! Enjoy!