By Olivia Pocat
These cupcakes are delicious and amazing. This recipe calls for basic ingredients which come together to form an amazing cupcake and some pretty good frosting. I got this recipe from Williams-Sonoma, but put my own twist on it using a flower mold to create cute cupcakes that look and taste delicious.
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup (2 1/2 oz./75 g) unsweetened natural cocoa powder
- 2/3 cup (5 fl. oz./160 ml) boiling water
- 1 cup (8 fl. oz./250 ml) buttermilk
- 1 3/4 cups (9 oz./280 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 12 Tbs. (1 1/2 sticks) (6 oz./185 g) unsalted butter, at room
temperature - 1 cup (8 oz./250 g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (3 1/2 oz./105 g) firmly packed light brown sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
For the dark chocolate frosting:
- 1/2 lb. (250 g) unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 16 Tbs. (8 oz./250 g) unsalted butter, at cool room temperature
- 2 1/2 cups (10 oz./315 g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
Directions:
Preheat an oven to 350°F (180°C). Line 18 silicone flower molds with paper liners, or butter and dust with flour.
In a bowl, whisk the cocoa powder into the boiling water. Let cool to lukewarm, then whisk in the buttermilk. In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat together the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar on medium speed until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and adding the vanilla along with the final egg. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the cocoa mixture and beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Beat just until combined.
Divide the batter among the prepared molds, filling each almost full. Bake until the cupcakes are puffed and a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the molds to a wire rack and let the cupcakes cool completely.
Meanwhile, make the dark chocolate frosting: Place the chocolate in the top of a double boiler set over but not touching barely simmering water. Heat, stirring often, until melted. Remove from over the water and let the chocolate cool to room temperature. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat the butter and confectioners’ sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the speed to low, add the chocolate and beat until incorporated, then increase the speed and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
Remove the cupcakes from the molds. Spread a thick layer of frosting on each cupcake and serve. Makes 18 cupcakes.