Luscious Raspberry Cheesecake Cupcakes
Ingredients:
For the cupcakes:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup whole milk
For the cheesecake filling:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla extract
For the raspberry filling:
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp water (slurry)
For the topping:
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Fresh raspberries for garnish
Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
Make the raspberry filling:
In a small saucepan, combine raspberries, sugar, and lemon juice over medium heat.
Cook until raspberries break down (~5 minutes).
Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook for another 1-2 minutes until thickened.
Remove from heat and let cool.
Prepare the cheesecake filling:
In a bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth.
Add sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla. Beat until creamy.
Make the cupcake batter:
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla.
Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix just until combined.
Assemble:
Fill each cupcake liner halfway with batter.
Add about 1 teaspoon of cheesecake filling and 1 teaspoon of raspberry filling in the center.
Top with a bit more cupcake batter to cover.
Bake for 20–23 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the edge (not the center) comes out clean.
Cool completely before decorating.
Make the whipped cream topping:
Beat heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form.
Decorate:
Pipe whipped cream onto cooled cupcakes.
Drizzle some reserved raspberry sauce over the whipped topping.
Garnish with a fresh raspberry and dust with powdered sugar.