baklava cupcakes

By foodiva

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups vegetable or corn oil
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/4 cups warm water
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• grated rind of 1 orange
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 4 cups flour
• HONEY-SIMPLE SYRUP
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup honey
• CUPCAKE FILLING
• 1 cup toasted walnuts, ground fine
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 4- 5 tablespoons Honey-Simple Syrup
• CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup confectioners sugar, sifted
• 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream, cold
• Baklava Crumbles for topping
• Cinnamon-sugar for topping

Details

Servings 30
Adapted from figsandfeta.com

Preparation

Step 1

FOR THE CUPCAKES
Combine 4 cups of flour with baking powder and spices, set aside.
In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat together sugar and oil until smooth.
Add warm water, orange juice, orange rind and continue to mix well.
Slowly blend in the dry ingredients, and blend until a smooth batter is formed.
Scoop batter into prepared cupcake tray with liners, filling about 3/4 full.
Bake at 350 degrees, for 18-22 minutes, checking to make sure they do not overbake.
FOR THE HONEY-SIMPLE SYRUP
Over medium high heat, in a small sauce pan combine sugar and water. Bring to a boil for 5 minutes. Add the Honey and simmer for 5-10 minutes until the syrup thickens. Remove and allow to cool.
FOR THE CUPCAKE FILLING
In a small food processor, chop the toasted walnuts until fine. Add cinnamon, sugar and honey simple syrup and stir to form a thick paste.
FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
In the bowl of your electric mixer with the paddle attachment beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add vanilla and confectioners sugar and beat until smooth.
Switch to the whisk attachment and slowly add the heavy cream.
Whip until the frosting is thick.
(Add more sugar or cream as needed to get the right consistency.)
Once the cupcakes have cooled, core out the middle with a little cupcake coring tool.
Fill with about 1 tablespoon of the walnut mixture.
Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes.
Top with cinnamon-sugar and baklava crumble.
NOTES
This may seem like a lot of steps, but don't worry! Make the cupcakes and the honey simple syrup a day ahead. Core, fill, frost, and decorate on another day. :)