The Middleman Cupcakes for Javi Grillo-Marxuach
Javi Grillo-Marxuach has worked on popular series like Charmed and Lost, but his most beloved work is the cult classic The Middleman.
The Middleman started as a comic with art by Les McClaine, and then it was picked up as a series for ABC Family. Just recently an Indie Go Go campaign was started to create new stories and the idea was so popular that The Middleman campaign far exceeded it’s initial asking.
I’ve made cupcakes for Javi before but for this birthday I wanted to roll out some deep cut Middleman cupcakes. I pulled out all the stops for these, starting with a caramel apple cupcake flavor that was a nod to Fatboy’s Farm Apple Wine from the show.
I topped these sweet treats with chocolate Middleman logos as seen in the inside cover of the comic, candy bananas in reference to the first book and lastly, custom Middleman specific popsicle sticks that I ordered from the fantastic Midtowntees on etsy. I highly recommend them!
Fans and writers on the Middleman who were guests at the party appreciated the detailed references and the cupcakes were an all around success! Happy birthday, Javi!
The Middleman Cupcakes for Javi Grillo-Marxuach
Ingredients:
You’ll need:
Laffy Taffy
black food coloring
chocolate for melting
Custom popsicle sticks
Caramel Apple Cupcakes
ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
pinch of salt
3/4 cups (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 ounces applesauce
1 apple, peeled and grated fine
1 cup buttermilk
1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda
Cinnamon Frosting
ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 Tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
pinch of salt
4 cups powdered sugar
3-4 Tablespoons heavy cream, as needed
Caramel Sauce
ingredients:
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon cornstarch
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prep cupcake pans with liners. (Makes 24 cupcakes)
In a bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer cream the butter, brown sugar and white sugar. Add the eggs, vanilla, applesauce and grated apple.
Add in the flour mixture, alternating with the buttermilk.
Combine the Apple Cider Vinegar and the baking soda and pour into the batter. Stir together until combined.
Spoon the batter into the prepped pans and bake for 12-14 minutes depending on your oven. Let cool on a wire rack.
While the cupcakes are cooling start the frosting. In the bowl of an electric mixer cream the butter, cinnamon, maple syrup, vanilla and salt. Carefully add in the powdered sugar, adding heavy cream until you get a light consistency. Turn the mixer up and beat until light and fluffy.
For the caramel sauce, in a saucepan over medium heat melt the butter and the brown sugar, stirring so the sugar doesn’t burn. Once melted together add in the heavy cream and the salt. Stir in the cornstarch to thicken, let cool.
Frost the cooled cupcakes with the cinnamon frosting, then drizzle the caramel sauce on top.
To make the banana toppers I shaped banana Laffy Taffy into small banana shapes, then I added a touch of black food coloring at both ends to make it look more “banana-like.”
To create the iconic Middleman “M” I printed out the logos to the size I wanted, then overlaid a piece of parchment. Using melted chocolate inside a squeeze bottle, I outlined the logo and then filled in with chocolate. 5 minutes in the freezer and they slip right off of the parchment paper.
Place the candy bananas, chocolate Ms and popsicle sticks into the cupcakes and they are ready to serve.
