Chocolate Cupcakes For Mother's Day!

What Mother's Day treat is a must-have at this mom's house? Chocolate. Yes, I am a serious choc-o-holic, I admit it. So one of my favorite desserts is chocolate cupcakes. If you are looking for a yummy cupcake recipe for Mother's Day, here is a delicious one from Real Simple:

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, spooned and leveled
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1 recipe Chocolate Ganache Frosting (you can get the recipe at Real Simple)
• miniature marshmallows, for topping

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla, then the eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
3. Reduce mixer speed to low. Add the flour mixture in 3 additions and the milk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix just until combined (do not over-mix).
4. Divide the batter among the prepared muffin tins and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool.
5. Spread the frosting on the cupcakes and sprinkle with the marshmallows.

This recipe should make about 24 cupcakes.

St. Patrick's Day Cupcake Recipe: Guinness and Bailey's Irish Cream Cupcakes

Annie's Eats

Oh, my green goodness! I found this Irish-based recipe on Annie's Eats, and just had to share it here for St. Patrick's Day!!

INGREDIENTS

For the Guinness chocolate cupcakes:
1 cup stout (Guinness)
16 tbsp. unsalted butter
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1½ tsp. baking soda
¾ tsp. salt
2 large eggs
2/3 cup sour cream


For the Bailey’s ganache filling:
8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
2/3 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp. butter, at room temperature
2 tsp. Bailey’s Irish cream

For the Bailey’s buttercream frosting:
8 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
3-4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
4-8 tbsp. Bailey’s Irish cream

DIRECTIONS

preheat the oven to 350° F. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners. Combine the stout and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the eggs and sour cream to blend. Add the stout-butter mixture and beat just to combine. Mix in the dry ingredients on low speed just until incorporated. Divide the batter evenly between the cupcake liners, filling them about 2/3 to ¾ full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 17 minutes. Allow to cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the ganache filling, place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Heat the cream in a small saucepan until simmering, then pour it over the chocolate. Let sit for one minute and then whisk until smooth. If the chocolate is not completely melted, place the bowl over a double boiler or give it a very short burst in the microwave (15-20 seconds). Add the butter and Bailey’s and stir until combined.

Set aside to let the ganache cool until it is thick enough to be piped. (You can use the refrigerator to speed the cooling process, but be sure to stir every 10 minutes or so to ensure even cooling.) Meanwhile, cut out a portion from the center of the cupcake using the cone method (a small paring knife works best for this). Once the ganache has reached the correct consistency, transfer it to a piping bag fitted with a wide tip and pipe it into the cupcakes.

To make the frosting, place the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Gradually add the powdered sugar until it is all incorporated. Mix in the Bailey’s until smooth. Add more if necessary until the frosting has reached a good consistency for piping or spreading. Frost the cupcakes as desired.

Enjoy!!

Valentine's Day Cupcake Recipe

Almost too sweet looking to eat, these red velvet cupcakes are perfect for a sweet Valentine's Day treat!

INGREDIENTS

3 eggs
3/4 cup butter
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
2-1/4 cups sugar
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1-oz. bottle red food coloring (2 Tbsp.)
1-1/2 cups buttermilk
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
1-1/2 tsp. vinegar
Small chocolate heart-shaped cookies (optional)
Powdered sugar (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Let eggs and butter stand 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 28 2-1/2-inch cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside.


In medium bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, and 3/4 tsp. salt; set aside. In large mixing bowl beat butter on medium-high 30 seconds. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until combined. One at a time, add eggs; beat on medium after each. Beat in food coloring on low.


Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk to egg mixture; beat on low to medium sped after each just until combined. Stir together baking soda and vinegar. Add to batter; beat just until combined.

From Better Homes and Gardens


Spoon batter into prepared pans, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake 15 to 17 minutes. Cool in pan on wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove from pans. Cool completely. Top with small chocolate cookies, if desired. Dust with powdered sugar. Makes 28 servings.

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Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

Wow. It has been a while since I found the time to update this blog, but I am back and will try to update much more often with yummy cupcake recipes I find! Now on to the latest recipe!

This recipe comes from Redbook Magazine and sounds perfect for summer bbqs!

INGREDIENTS

Cupcakes

• 1 1/3 cup(s) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1/2 cup(s) unsalted butter, softened
• 2/3 cup(s) granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup(s) sour cream

Toppings

• 1 quart(s) strawberries, hulled, thickly sliced
• 1/3 cup(s) granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon(s) lemon juice
• 1 1/2 cup(s)cold heavy cream
• 3 tablespoon(s) confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon(s) vanilla extract

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DIRECTIONS

1. Cupcakes: Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 12 standard muffin cups with paper liners. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl with mixer on medium, beat butter and sugar until light and creamy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then vanilla. With mixer on low, alternately beat in flour mixture and sour cream until combined. Continue to beat on medium until batter is thick and smooth.
2. Spoon batter into a Ziploc bag. Snip a 1/2-inch corner from the bag and fill the liners slightly less than two-thirds full. Bake 24 to 26 minutes, or until lightly golden and a pick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 5 minutes; remove cupcakes from pan and cool completely.
3. Topping: Toss strawberries several times in a bowl with sugar and lemon juice until very syrupy. In a large bowl, beat cream, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla until soft peaks form.
4. Use a skewer to poke several holes into top of each cupcake. Spoon some syrup from bowl over top, allowing it to absorb into cupcakes. Top with sliced berries and a dollop of cream. Arrange a few sliced berries in cream and drizzle with remaining strawberry syrup.