How to make Mastixa Cupcakes

Yummy vanilla cupcakes filled with a vanilla bean pastry cream and topped with a Mastixa (mastic gum) buttercream!
*Recipe*
Ingredients for the vanilla bean pastry cream:
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/8 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups milk
5 egg yolks
1 tbsp unsalted butter
Seeds from 1 vanilla bean
Ingredients for the cupcakes:
1 stick unsalted butter (softened)
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 eggs (room temperature)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk
Ingredients for the buttercream:
1 stick unsalted butter (softened)
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp mastixa (mastic gum) powder
- How to make the vanilla bean pastry cream -
1. In a pot mix together the flour, sugar, salt and milk.
2. In a separate bowl whisk together the egg yolks.
3. Once the milk mixture begins to boil, take it off the heat and slowly start pouring, a light stream, of the milk into the egg yolks while whisking continuously.
4. Once the yolks get incorporated with the milk, add it all back to the pot.
5. Keeping the pot on low, whisk continuously until the mixture thickens and boils.
6. Using a sieve, pour the mixture through it just to make sure any cooked eggs bits get removed.
7. Mix the butter into the pastry cream until it melts completely and cover it with plastic wrap, making sure it's touching the top so no skin forms, and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
- How to make the cupcakes -
1. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
2. In a stand mixer, with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar.
3. Add the eggs in one at a time.
4. Then add in the vanilla extract.
5. Turn the mixer to low and start adding in the flour mixture and then add the milk a little at a time. Just switch between the two and end with the flour mixture.
6. Line a cupcake pan with greased cupcake liners and fill them up with the mixture 3/4 of the way up.
7. Place into a 350 degree oven and bake for 25 minutes. Once you place a toothpick in the center of the cupcake it should come out clean.
8. Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
- How to make the buttercream -
1. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and powdered sugar. Add the vanilla extract, mastixa and then the milk.
- Assembly -
1. With a knife, make a well in the center of the cupcake for the filling.
2. Fill the cupcakes with the vanilla bean pastry cream.
3. Frost the cupcakes with the buttercream
Enjoy! Kali Orexi!