Marzipan poppy seed cupcakes

Ingredients for 12 servings:

• 200 g marzipan paste
• 300 g sour cream
• 100 g butter
• 100 g sugar
• 125 g poppy seed cake
• 1 egg(s)
• 150 g flour
• 150 g almond(s), ground
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 pinch of salt
• 100 g butter
• 250 g powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp syrup (Amaretto)
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 pinch of salt
• 50 g dark chocolate

Instructions

Working time approx. 30 minutes; Cooking/baking time approx. 20 minutes; Total time approx. 50 minutes

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Cut 100g of marzipan into 12 pieces and shape them into small balls. Cut the remaining marzipan into small pieces and mix it in a bowl with the sour cream, softened butter, sugar, poppy seed flour, and egg. If the marzipan pieces don’t blend into a smooth paste using a hand mixer, you can process the marzipan mixture again using a hand blender or mixer. In a second bowl, combine the flour, ground almonds, baking powder, baking soda, and a pinch of salt. Then fold the flour mixture into the wet mixture. Stir just until combined. Line a muffin tin with paper baking cups or cut-up baking paper. Fill the cups halfway with batter, place a marzipan ball inside, and fill with batter. Bake the cupcakes in the oven for 20-25 minutes. After baking, let them cool briefly on the baking tray and then cool completely on a wire rack. For the frosting: Using a hand mixer, briefly beat the softened butter with the powdered sugar and all the remaining ingredients until smooth. The mixture should be firm enough to pipe onto the cupcakes using a piping bag. If not, put it back in the fridge for a bit. For the decoration: Melt the dark chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave. Line a baking sheet with baking paper. Let the melted chocolate cool and then pour it into a freezer bag. Press the chocolate into one corner and hold it like a piping bag. Then snip off a small corner and pipe small lattices onto the baking paper. The chocolate lattices set quickest in the fridge. You can then decorate the cupcakes with them. Store the cupcakes in a cool place.