Today is the second Savoury Tuesday, in Cupcake a Day May… Time to do Mac and Cheese Cupcakes.
Mac and Cheese Cupcakes
These were not my idea. I was in my local bar/awesome eatery, Hercules Morse a few weeks ago, tossing around this whole Cupcake a Day idea, and one of the owners, Ash, brought up the concept. He even attempted to show me a mag with such a cupcake documented, but the mag had gone. So I have been left to my own devices.
Things about developing a Mac and Cheese Cupcake that I found to be self-evident:
- A lot of cheese. And melty, on top.
- Panko Crumbs.
- Very twisty Macaroni, for cool mouthfeel, and good looks.
- Not very much flour.
- Actually probably not cake at all.
- Bacon. And onion.
The day before Mac and Cheese Tuesday, I sat around my office wondering what the minutae of such a cupcake should be. Should there be a “crumb”? Should there just be some kind of cheesy béchamel goop? Should there be nothing but cheese holding the thing together?
As the Greek dude who sat in the bath would have it: Eureka.
Bacon and Onion
Cheese and Panko mix
Cooking the Mac and Cheese
Mac and Cheese Cupcakes
Mac and Cheese Cupcakes
These are inconceivably delicious, especially when they are still warm.
Mac and Cheese Cupcakes
Mac and Cheese Cupcakes
makes 12
ingredients
2 cups curly macaroni
1 tablespoon butter
100g bacon
1 onion, diced
1 egg, beaten
2 cups grated cheddar cheese (I used Mainland Noble White Cheddar)
1 cup milk
1/2 cup panko crumbs
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dried thyme
a grind or two of black pepper
mixing
Line a 12 hole muffin pan with cupcake cases, spray with non-stick spray.
Cook the macaroni in a large pot of salted boiling water for about 8 minutes, so that the pasta is a little bit firmer than al dente. While the pasta is cooking, fry the onion and bacon in the butter, and set aside. Combine the panko crumbs, parmesan, olive oil, salt, thyme and pepper in a small bowl and set aside.
Drain the pasta and return to the pot. Add the egg, bacon/onion mixture and cheese, and stir well to coat the pasta. Add the milk and mix well. Heat over a low heat, stirring all the time until the cheese is all melted and the mixture is slightly thickened. Spoon the pasta mixture into the cupcake cases and sprinkle with the bread crumb mixture.
Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for about 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Mac and Cheese Cupcakes
Enjoy!xxx
