Chocolate Cupcakes with Chambord Frosting

By CandyH

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cups good cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup buttermilk, shaken
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee
• For the frosting
• 18 ounces good quality semi sweet or bittersweet chocolate; chopped
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 4 tablespoons Chambord

Details

Adapted from mybakingaddiction.com

Preparation

Step 1

For the cupcakes

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners; set aside.

2. Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula.

3. Using a large scoop, distribute the batter between 24 muffin wells, filling each well 2/3 full. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack and cool completely.

For the frosting

1. Place chocolate in a large heat safe bowl. Set aside.

2. In a medium saucepan, heat heavy cream over medium heat until it just begins to boil. DO NOT walk away from the stove. The cream could boil over and you will be with a big mess to clean up.

3. Immediately pour hot cream over chocolate and let it sit for five minutes.

4. Begin stirring the cream with a wooden spoon or whisk starting in the center of the bowl and working your way outward. As you stir, you will see the cream and chocolate come together. Allow your ganache to cool for 15 minutes and stir in Chambord.

5. Allow ganache to cool completely and set up before piping (about two hours). You can also place the bowl into the refrigerator for about an hour, just be careful to keep checking on it so it doesn’t get too firm.

6. Pipe ganache onto cupcakes and garnish with fresh raspberry.

Notes:


- Cupcake recipe adapted from Ina Garten.