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Recipe: Chocolate and Goat Cheese Cupcakes

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By Joseph Neese - email

(RNN) - For past chef Meghan McGarry, the Oscars are an annual event. 

The celebrated Buttercream Blondie blogger always celebrates the evening with a group of close friends, as she watches the motion picture industry pass out its highest honors.

"You get to see people's creativity come to life, which is what I love," McGarry says of the show.

The chef also follows up the awards show by hosting a very special girl's night viewing of E!'s Fashion Police, where host Joan Rivers passes out best dressed honors.

"I love fashion, and I live in heels," McGarry said. "They are my guilty pleasure."

Here's a look at what the rising talent in the baking world will be serving this year at her parties: a chocolate cupcake with goat cheese frosting.

Chocolate Cupcakes

  • 4 ounces unsalted, room-temperature butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 tsps. vanilla bean paste (sub with vanilla extract)
  • 1 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup coffee 
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Make coffee and set aside.
  3. Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
  4. Add egg and vanilla.
  5. Sift dries together.
  6. Alternate, adding the dries with the coffee and buttermilk. 
  7. Fill cupcake pans and bake at 375 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes, rotating once halfway through.

Goat Cheese Frosting

  • 8 oz. goat cheese
  • 1/4 cup, 2 tbsp. light brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  1. Cream goat cheese, light brown sugar and vanilla on medium speed until creamy.
  2. Whip heavy cream and powdered sugar until stiff.
  3. Fold whipped cream into goat cheese mixture and refrigerate until ready to use.

Red Wine Reduction

  • 1 cup sweet red wine (Use one you like to drink.)
  1. Bring wine up to a boil, then lower heat to medium-low and let simmer down to about 1/4 cup liquid. It takes about 12 to 14 minutes to reduce and get syrupy, so be sure you keep a close eye.
  2. Make sure it is completely cool before you spoon it on the frosting.

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Copyright 2012 Raycom News Network. Recipe reprinted with permission from Meghan McGarry.