“A party without cake is just a meeting.” —JULIA CHILD CONTENTS Foreword by Florian Bellanger Introduction 1 TART + CITRUSY + LIGHT 2 FRUITY + BERRY 3 SALTY + NUTTY 4 CHOCOLATE 5 SPICE + CINNAMON + MAPLE + COFFEE 6 SAVORY Acknowledgments Index FOREWORD “This is what Cupcake Wars is all about.” Those were the first words I said to Alison Riede after I tasted her Sharp Cheddar Cupcake with Honey Blue Cheese Frosting and Candied Pecan Topping. It was Season 4 of Cupcake Wars and I had tasted my fair share of unusual flavor combinations over the previous three seasons. The first round of each episode of Cupcake Wars is always based 100 percent on taste, and taste alone, so we challenge bakers to create a delicious cupcake using ingredients not commonly found in a cupcake. Typically those ingredients contain savory elements normally reserved for cooking, not baking. Alison was a contestant on a holiday episode, based on the Hollywood Christmas Parade event, so she was challenged to create a cupcake using an old-fashioned, outdated Christmas dish. Her options included string bean casserole, oyster pudding, fruitcake, and a cheese log. She chose the latter, and I was instantly impressed by her ability to balance the savory, sharp Cheddar with the nutty, strong flavor of the blue cheese in the frosting while keeping some sweetness with a touch of honey and the toasted candied pecans. While growing up in Paris, I knew at an early age I wanted to get into baking and pastry arts as a career. I’ve been working in professional kitchens in Paris and the United States since 1983, and it’s interesting to watch the way trends in the culinary industry come and go. Cupcakes have been a huge, growing trend for the last ten years. In 2005 Candace Nelson opened Sprinkles Cupcakes, which is considered the first bakery specializing in cupcakes alone. Since then, cupcakes have stopped taking a back seat to traditional cakes and are becoming the main dessert at many weddings, birthday parties, and large events. Cupcakes can now be considered a sophisticated dessert worthy of a black-tie event. Not all that long ago it seemed that if you wanted to bake your own cupcakes you had to buy a box mix at the grocery store, with three flavors to choose from: vanilla, chocolate, and red velvet. Now there are countless gourmet options available, such as pistachio, salted caramel, and flourless chocolate. With the emergence of this new cupcake trend came a new competition of cupcake bakers, each eager to outdo the other and take cupcakes to the next level. Cupcake Wars, which first aired in 2010, has challenged bakers to think outside the box and take more risks. In order to win an episode of Cupcake Wars, you have to be willing to experiment with savory ingredients such as fried chicken, avocados, and black beans while still making your cupcake taste delicious. It’s rare that bakers can strike this balance between sweet and savory, but I believe this is the way the cupcake industry is headed. Alison has told me that her experience on Cupcake Wars changed her thinking on cupcakes forever; now she’s constantly finding inspiration for new cupcake recipes, whether it’s tasting an ethnic dish for the first time, wine tasting, or trying out a new cocktail at a restaurant. Sweet, Savory, and Sometimes Boozy Cupcakes is a cookbook for creative and modern bakers, amateur or experienced, who want to impress their friends with something new, something avant-garde. There are cupcake recipes featuring an array of cheeses, such as camembert and parmesan, and fresh herbs and spices, such as rosemary, sage, and herbes de Provence. My personal favorite, the Sharp Cheddar Cupcake, also makes an appearance. These are the perfect cupcakes to entertain with; they’ll give your guests a conversation topic, and you’ll have an excuse to open a bottle of wine to pair with them. Bon appetit! Florian Bellanger Executive Pastry Chef, Founder and Co-Owner of Mad Mac NYC. Permanent Judge on the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars” INTRODUCTION As I quickly discovered when I competed on the show — and won — Cupcake Wars, the world of cupcake flavors has moved well beyond vanilla with rainbow sprinkles! The cupcake world is heading in another, more mature direction: savory and sometimes boozy cupcakes. Many people are thrown off when they hear some of my cupcake flavors, such as Sharp Cheddar, Rosemary Parmesan, and even Chicken ’n’ Waffle. Being on Cupcake Wars forced me to think outside the box, because I had to find a way to stand apart and win. I’ve started using different herbs, cheeses, wines, beers, and even vegetables in my cupcakes. My Cucumber Mint Cupcake is one of my absolute favorites; it’s refreshing, light, and has a subtle sweetness. I have personally experienced the flavor evolution of cupcakes, from cupcakes being very cutesy and girly, to becoming more sophisticated and elevated. In fact, I’ve started pairing my cupcakes with wine at a local tasting room called Corks n’ Crowns in Santa Barbara, and the response has been incredible. It’s been a perfect testing ground for new cupcake recipes, and I’ve discovered that people are curious to try unlikely flavors, partly to say they’ve tried them! I don’t know about you, but if something is new and exclusive, I want to try it. That’s why I like to experiment with savory flavors, not only are they unexpected, but they are surprisingly delicious. Some people will say they aren’t “dessert people,” but the combination of lightly sweet and savory flavors will open their minds to the idea of dessert. I was inspired to create this cookbook that strikes the balance of sweet and savory, and make these recipes accessible to everyone.