Princess Torte Cupcakes

There’s a celebration happening today! It’s a virtual baby shower for my pal Kristan of Confessions of a Cookbook Queen! She’s expecting Princess Lucy next month, so I’ve created a special cupcake for her inspired by the traditional Swedish Princesstårta.

I’ve always thought the Princess Torte looked extra sweet and dainty with that little pink rose on top. Don’t you think they’d be perfect for a little girl’s tea party?! No question.

Kristan, please invite me over when it’s little girl tea party time. I’ll bring the cupcakes!

The most obvious element I’ve taken from the original cake is the appearance, but other elements include a marzipan layer, pastry cream, and red raspberry jam. I chose to use a sour cream cake batter as the base instead of a sponge cake and I flavored it with chardonnay.  If you are serving these to kiddies, just switch out the chardonnay in the pastry cream and cake batter for sparkling white grape juice.

Be sure to check out all the other goodies we’re showering on Kristan at the links below!

Cookies and Cups | Zebra Cake Cupcakes

The Hungry Housewife  | White Cupcakes  

She Wears Many Hats |  Pretty in Pink Party Marshmallows

Two Peas and Their Pod | Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes

Bluebonnets and Brownies |  Apple Cider Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting

My Baking Addiction | Sugar and Spice Cupcakes

Picky Palate | Pumpkin Brownie Cupcakes with Vanilla Bean Buttercream

Blooming on Bainbridge | Twinkie Cupcakes with Pink Cherry Frosting

Food For My Family | Pomegranate and Lime Olive Oil Yogurt Cupcakes

Bakingdom |  Homemade Twinkie Cupcakes

Glorious Treats | Sweet Baby Cupcakes with Easy Fondant Toppers

Sweet Sugarbelle | Damask Cookies

Buns In My Oven | Maple Cupcakes with Maple Frosting

Dine and Dish | Neapolitan Cream Filled Cupcakes

Chocolate and Carrots | Whole Wheat Chocolate Cupcakes

Bake at 350 | Little Pumpkin Cupcakes

Living Locurto | Baby Shower Printables 

Princess Torte Cupcakes

Yield: about 15 cupcakes

Cake:                                                                                                           [click for printable version]
1/2 cup butter softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup chardonnay or sparkling white grape juice

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a standard-size muffin tin with plain cupcake papers.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and mix. Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, set aside.  in a medium sized bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup chardonnay and 1/2 cup sour cream (mixture will fizz and bubble a little).  Add flour and chardonnay mixture alternately, beginning and ending with flour.  Batter will be thick.
  3. Fill cupcake papers with 1/4 cup measures of batter.  Bake for 17-22 minutes.  Set aside.

Chardonnay Pastry Creme Filling:

1/2 cup heavy cream, divided
1/2 cup chardonnay or sparkling white grape juice
2 tbsp cornstarch 
5 tbsp granulated sugar
1 whole egg
2 egg yolks
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tsp vanilla

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk cornstarch in 1/4 cup of heavy cream. Combine the remaining heavy cream, sugar and 1/2 cup chardonnay in a saucepan; bring to a boil then remove from heat.
  2. Beat the whole egg and egg yolks into the cornstarch/heavy cream mixture.  Pour 1/3 of boiling chardonnay mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly so the eggs do not cook.  Return the remaining chardonnay/heavy cream mixture to a boil.  Pour in the hot egg mixture in a stream, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens.  Remove from heat and beat in the butter and vanilla.  

Assembly:

10 oz. Marzipan

1/2 lb. rolled fondant tinted pale green with 1 or 2 drops of liquid food coloring

3 tbsp. rolled fondant tinted pink

1 tbsp. rolled fondant tinted leaf green

Cooled pastry cream (recipe above)

1/3 cup red raspberry jelly

White ruffled cupcake liners

Gold luster dust and artists’ brush (optional)

  1. Cut a divot into the top of each cupcake and fill with 1/2 tbsp. pastry cream and 1/2 tbsp. raspberry jelly.  Trim the cut-out cake pieces flat to make a “lid” and place on top of the filled divot.
  2. Roll the marzipan out on a work surface dusted with confectioners sugar.  Cut 3-inch rounds using a round cookie cutter or pastry ring.  Re-roll marzipan scraps and cut more circles as needed.
  3. Lay a marzipan circle over the top of a cupcake and press the edges down onto the cupcake, creating a perfectly smooth top (picture).  If the marzipan doesn’t want to stick, you can brush the cupcake with a little water using a pastry brush before applying the marzipan.  Repeat with remaining cupcakes.
  4. Roll out the green fondant and cut 3-inch circles as before with the marzipan.  Roll each circle out a little larger using a fondant roller.  Place circle over a marzipan’d cupcake and gently smooth over and around the cupcake top using  cupped hands. Trim off excess fondant using a small, non-serrated knife.
  5. Place fondant covered cupcakes in white ruffled papers (I double up on these for extra-ruffly effect!). Roll out pink fondant and cut into 3/4-inch strips.  Roll up strips from a short end to form a rose bud. Pinch off excess and place on top of fondant covered cupcake. If it doesn’t adhere naturally, moisten the bottom of the rose bud with water, then apply to top of cupcake.  Roll out the leaf green fondant and cut out tiny leaves with a plain-edge knife (I did this without a template or cutter). Apply the leaf next to the rosebud by pressing it onto the fondant; brush with water if necessary to help it adhere. Brush rosebud with gold luster dust.
  6. Store in an air-tight container in refrigerator.  Bring to room temperature before serving.

Supplies:

Wilton White Ruffle Standard Cups, 24 Count

Wilton Baking Cups – Double Ruffle – White

Satin Ice Rolled Fondant – White – Vanilla – 2 lb

Odense Marzipan Candy Dough, 7 Oz.

HIC Stainless Steel Food Ring, 3-1/2-Inch

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Rosa's Yummy Yums
Rosa's Yummy Yums
11 years ago

Extremely pretty and so refined looking!

Cheers,

Rosa

Frida G Svensson
Frida G Svensson
11 years ago

well it's swedish and not swiss, isn't it?

anyway, they look perfectly excuisiste! (spelling?)

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
11 years ago

You're right! Thank you!

Amber | Bluebonnets and Brownies
Amber | Bluebonnets and Brownies
11 years ago

Oh my. These babies are absolutely stunning. I just love the sweet little English rosebud on top of each, and the idea of Chardonnay Pastry Creme has me more than a little excited. Wonderful idea to celebrate Kristan and Lucy!

TidyMom
TidyMom
11 years ago

GORGEOUS Heather! Chardonnay in the batter?! oh my word that sounds amazing!!

Happy shower day for Kristan and baby Lucy!

cookies and cups
cookies and cups
11 years ago

You continue to amaze me! Chardonnay in the pastry cream? You must live in my brain!

Maria
Maria
11 years ago

So elegant and beautiful!

Karly
Karly
11 years ago

Oh my goodness. These are so dainty and delicate. Absolutely gorgeous!

Amy
Amy
11 years ago

Wow. These are so elegant and perfectly precious for a baby shower.

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

Oh my! I would pay good money for these!

Cookbook Queen
Cookbook Queen
11 years ago

Are you kidding??

A tea party with you and my sweet girl would be a DREAM COME TRUE. For serious.

I absolutely love these. I am just so blessed and feeling super special this morning. Thank you for being such a great friend.

Leslie
Leslie
11 years ago

THESE are absolutely PERFECT!!!!!!

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

me encanta el corazón tierno!

Caroline @ chocolate & carrots
Caroline @ chocolate & carrots
11 years ago

How perfect for a girl's first tea party! 😀 I can just picture Kristan making these for Lucy when she's older. I just love how dainty and precious they are!

Shaina @FoodforMyFamily
Shaina @FoodforMyFamily
11 years ago

My daughter would go nuts for these. They turned out so nice, Heather, and the ruffle on the wrapper makes them even more perfect (as if it were possible!).

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

Those are just beautiful Heather! You have such a wonderful talent, and are a big inspiration to the aspiring baker in me!

Kristen
Kristen
11 years ago

These are the most lovely creations!

Christina Marie
Christina Marie
11 years ago

I'm pretty sure I've never seen anything quite as dainty and cute as these!

Come check out my DIY for an AUTUMN WREATH.
http://www.becauseofmadalene.com/2012/10/diy-autumn-wreath.html

Christina

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
11 years ago

These are so perfect!

Glory
Glory
11 years ago

These are so amazingling beautiful and perfect!! These would be incredible at a fancy tea party!!

Emma Johansson
Emma Johansson
11 years ago

This comment has been removed by the author.

Emma Johansson
Emma Johansson
11 years ago

I'm swedish, we used to have "prinsesstårta" every birthday when I was a little girl! But I think i would like it more as a cupcake 🙂

Teresa
Teresa
11 years ago

Princess Lucy!
How sweet is that!
You are a princess too sweet Heather.
Honestly!
You are magic!
That's the truth.
These cupcakes are so dainty and sweet.
Perfect for a princess.
Hugs and LOVE sweet girl!
So excited for Kristan and Lucy!
xo

Elizabeth King
Elizabeth King
11 years ago

Aww these cupcakes are super girly and cute! Love them! ^_^

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

The princess cupcakes are the most beautiful cupcakes I have seen. They are perfect in every way. And the filling sounds absolutely amazing!

bridget {bake at 350}
bridget {bake at 350}
11 years ago

Heather!!! These are absolutely GORGEOUS!!! I actually squealed a little when your page opened. These are just. precious. Wow!

Darla | Bakingdom
Darla | Bakingdom
11 years ago

So sweet and stunning, Heather! They're just too beautiful!

Bake Me Cakes
Bake Me Cakes
11 years ago

As Swede I must say they look like perfect little prinsess tårtor! I made a full size one myself not long ago. This a brilliant celebration cake and a great Swedish tradition!

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

Heather, Your cupcakes are just so beautiful and elegant! Too gorgeous to eat! 🙂 We would love to have you share these on our blog sixsistersstuff.com at our Strut Your Stuff Saturday! They are amazing! Love the virtual shower for baby Lucy! -The Six Sisters

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

Simply gorgeous…..sooooo classy. Kristan is going to love these!

Tina @ Sugar Bean Bakers
Tina @ Sugar Bean Bakers
11 years ago

These are stunning.

Vicki Bensinger
Vicki Bensinger
11 years ago

I think these are the most adorable cupcakes ever. I love these and just printed the recipe. I hope mine will turn out 1/4 as pretty as yours.

Elizabeth@ Food Ramblings
Elizabeth@ Food Ramblings
11 years ago

These are for for a princess 🙂

vanillasugarblog
vanillasugarblog
11 years ago

those are gorgeous!
I mean they literally are just for a princess!

Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts
11 years ago

These are just the perfect cupcakes for a baby shower. You can't get much more fitting for a princess!

Jamie
Jamie
11 years ago

These are just gorgeous and so fit for a princess. I really can't get over how beautiful these are.

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

So pretty! I am catering a bridal shower in a few weeks and these would be perfect 🙂 Thank you for sharing the recipe!

Heather
Heather
11 years ago

LOOOOOOVE those. (And I love the name Lucy!) Great name.
See you soon!
Hedda

Paula
Paula
11 years ago

So pretty. So perfect for Kristan and baby Lucy and so wonderfully photographed.

Lora
Lora
11 years ago

Awwww so sweet and elegant. These are just perfect and the flavors are great.

Manderley de GuindillayCanela
Manderley de GuindillayCanela
11 years ago

Ohhhh waaooo these cupcakes are beautiful!! i love them!! And yum, of course 😉

xo

Deirdre
Deirdre
11 years ago

So cute! I love pretty cupcakes!

Deirdre @
http://thekitschcook.blogspot.ie/

Colette (Coco)
Colette (Coco)
11 years ago

This was my bday cake every year when I was little – we lived near a Danish bakery. Princess Torte has a special place in my heart.

Amy @ Living Locurto
Amy @ Living Locurto
11 years ago

These cupcakes look wonderful! It was so much fun doing Kristan's shower with you:-)

Catherine
Catherine
11 years ago

Dear Heather, Gorgeous cupcakes…they are so pretty and delightful. Blessings my dear, Catherine

Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
11 years ago

Aww too cute! Perfect for the Cookbook Queen!

Sue
Sue
11 years ago

Such little beauties! Yep, perfect for a princess:)

Leann
Leann
11 years ago

These are sooo soo cute! I really wish I could decorate like this.

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

These cupcakes are absolutely amazing! I'm delighted with them! I've featured this recipes on my blog! I hope you don't mind! If you don't agree with that please contact me and I will remove it. All the best.

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

Where do you find the cupcake liners with the dropped ruffle like that? They look much fancier than the Wilton that I've found…