Strawberry Shortcake Cupcake...
I'm making a birthday dessert (not to be served but as a gift) to take to a neighbor's birthday celebration this weekend. After questioning her SO I learned that her favorite dessert is strawberry shortcake. What I'd like to do is a cupcake version, both for ease of transport as well as the festive factor. I've considered mini tartlettes and the like (as well as actual shortcakes... but it needs to be something I can make the night before and will sleep well in the fridge or on the counter) but I'm really leaning toward a cupcake. I have two ideas and would love any thoughts and/or suggestions as to what you all would prefer to eat yourselves, as well as what would be more successful as a recipe. How do you feel about:
- A vanilla cupcake filled with pastry cream (I was considering the white balsamic cream I've made for an Epicurious berry tart recipe) topped with white chocolate frosting and strawberries
- a fresh strawberry cupcake with a graham cracker crust on the bottom (pressed into the cups prior to baking) topped with white chocolate or cream cheese frosting and strawberries
Thanks for your input Chowhounds!
L,
LAcc
LAcupcake
Jan 24, 2008 12:44PM
LAcc,
I am the amateur of amateur bakers here, but I used to work in a bakery and I think your first option (with pastry cream filling) would travel better. White chocolate frosting is also more stable than cream cheese, I think. The tartlettes may be the safest option, if by any chance you reconsider... My personal taste preference would be a compromise: graham cracker crust, vanilla cupcake with pastry cream, whipped cream frosting and a sliced strawberry on top. The whipped cream frosting is not so travel-friendly, though. How far are you going?
In any case, I would love to hear how it turns out; my SO's favorite dessert is strawberry shortcake and I'll be traveling for about 5 hours to see him on Valentine's Day -- 2 1/2 hours of which will be spent on a plane. Hope other 'hounds can pitch in with some advice! Good luck!
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Thanks so much for your feedback! I only had to travel next door but I wanted them to sit well since I was sending them with the bf and had to make them the night before. I ended up doing a graham crust, vanilla cupcakes and white chocolate frosting with sliced strawberries on top. They went over very well and I think I'll do the white chocolate frosting again. I decided not to fill them as I was worried about them getting soggy overnight. I think something like this would definitely work for your plane trip. Have fun with your valentine!
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Yum -- glad it went well! Thanks for the report back.
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