Chocolate Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350F.  Paper line a 12-cup muffin tin.

Chocolate Cupcakes with chocolate icing need no explanation or description.  They are a favourite with adults and kids alike and this recipe gives you a dozen perfect treats for anytime!

This recipe bakes up a tender, chocolatey cupcake with a fine crumb.  I topped mine with a basic chocolate icing but vanilla, peanut butter or a burnt sugar frosting would all compliment these little cakes.

I used a Wilton 1M tip and piped the icing starting in the centre.  A few Wilton blue ‘jimmies’ I picked up at my local Michael’s store finishes them off.  The ‘jimmies’ are available in small packs at a reasonable cost giving you access to a variety of colours to bedazzle all your baked goods without a big price tag!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

3/4 cup warm (not hot) brewed coffee

10 tbsp. butter, room temperature

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

Method:

Place cocoa and baking soda in a small bowl and slowly whisk in coffee until smooth.

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder.

In a medium bowl, beat the butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy.  Whisk in the egg, vanilla and salt until the batter is smooth.  Stir half the flour mixture into the batter until combined.  Stir in the chocolate liquid, then add in remaining half of the flour mixture until smooth.  Do not overbeat.

Divide the batter evenly between the 12 cups.  Bake approximately 15-18 minutes until tops spring back when lightly touched or toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.  Cool completely and ice.

Chocolate Icing:

Beat 1/2 cup room temperature butter with electric mixer for a couple of minutes until light in colour.

Add in 4 cups of icing sugar, 1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa and 2 tsp of vanilla extract.  Mix on low until combined.  Add in enough cream or milk until spreadable consistency (approximately 1/4 cup, add a little at a time).  Beat on high for about 5 minutes until fluffy.  Spread or pipe onto cupcakes.  Leftovers may be frozen.