Dynamic Duo: Wine and Cheese Cupcakes

What goes better than wine and cheese? Not much.  But I am sure when you read wine and cheese cupcakes you were mildly concerned as to where this could be going.  Well here is the short of it, it is a vanilla cupcake filled with fruit and wine compote and a cream cheese frosting.  See how we get the wine and cheese in there?  Although I have been cooking lots lately I haven’t been posting any recipes.  I have been busy prepping for my burger battle and battling the heat in my apartment.  But as I make my return, I needed to post something that will blow your socks off, and this cupcake will do that.  It is coworker approved.  I apologize for not posting lately, but I am back with my most creative recipes yet!

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups of flour
• 2 eggs
• 6 tablespoons butter (for cupcakes)
• 3/4 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 block cream cheese
• 1/2 stick butter (for frosting)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 cans peaches (or fresh)
• 1/2 cup apple sauce
• 1 peeled apple
• 8 oz red wine (I used sweet red)

How to:

1. Begin by preheating your oven to 350.
2. Cream the room temperature butter with the granulated sugar.  About 2 minutes.
3. Add each of the eggs, one at a time, and fully incorporated.
4. Add the vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt.
5. Add in the flour a bit at a time, while also adding in the milk.
6. Line a muffin tin with liners and fill 3/4 of the way up.
7. Bake for 20 minutes or until slightly golden and has just a little give in the middle. Set aside to cool
8. For the compote put the peaches (drained), the diced apple, the apple sauce, and the wine in a pan and set on medium high.
9. Cook continuously until the wine has reduced and the fruit is soft almost mushy.  This takes about 40 minutes so be patient. I also added a pinch of cinnamon to this to bring out the earthy tones of the wine.
10. For the frosting, beat together the cream cheese and soft butter until well whipped.
11. In a seperate bowl whip the heavy cream until stiff. Fold this into the cream cheese and butter mixture.
12. Beat in the cups of sugar 1/2 a cup at a time until desired sweetness is reached (may need more sugar).  Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and you are done!
13. Assemble once everything has cooled and enjoy!