NEW RECIPE: Key Lime Cupcakes with Tahitian Vanilla Mascarpone Frosting

© Constantine William Spyrou

I've never been a pro genius when it comes to desserts, so when the Masterchef challenges involve dessert, I like having the opportunity to try making desserts and seeing if they can turn out any good. One of my all time favorite desserts is Key Lime Pie, which is kind of like a super-delicious lime cheesecake. For the Cupcake Elimination Challenge, I decided to try to turn this South Beach dessert classic into a delicious cupcake. Using the frosting to kind of emulate the cheesecake, this should be one of the most awesome cupcakes ever! 

Recipe makes 12 cupcakes.

For the Cupcakes: 

1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated white sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup lime zest
2 sticks unsalted butter, cubed
Seeds of 1 Tahitian Vanilla Bean
4 large eggs
1 cup milk

For the Frosting:

2 cups softened cream cheese
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup mascarpone
Seeds of 1 Tahitian Vanilla Bean

For the Glaze/Garnish:

2 cups water
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup lime juice
1/4 cup lime zest

Baking/Assembling:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Combine the flours, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Mix on low speed, then add in the cubed butter slowly until its coated with the flour.
3. Add the eggs 1 at a time until they are combined into the flour mixture. Add the milk and vanilla bean seeds in and mix on low speed until completely mixed.
4. Fill oiled/greased cupcake tins no more than two thirds of the way up. Bake the cupcakes for 20 minutes, and let them cool.
5. While the cupcakes bake, make the frosting. Beat together the cream cheese, sugar, mascarpone, and vanilla bean until soft and well combined.
6. In a pot, boil the water and sugar and lime juice until you are reduced by at least half. Let cool to form a glaze.
7. When the glaze is cooled, mix in the lime zest.
8. Spread the frosting over the cupcakes, the swirl the glaze over the top of the frosting.

The cupcakes very much resemble the flavors of key lime pie, and work very well together to create awesome cupcakes. Try them for your next party! 

I hope you enjoy this recipe! Let me know what you think and what you would change! If you make it, let me know how it turns out! Enjoy! =)