Sadhvi

There I was, waiting to check out at the health food store.  Normally I take a glance at the magazines: Johnny Depp will catch my eye, so will Obama, and so will a cover shot of some yummy Chocolate Cupcakes with Buttercream Chocolate Icing!

I was going to visit someone over the weekend, and I wanted to bring her something.  I tried this recipe from Cook’s Illustrated, and so should you.  It’s easy and very good…not too sweet, with a rich, chocolaty taste.  The icing was also good and easy, and again, NOT TOO SWEET!

Maybe it’s my liver; maybe it’s menopause; maybe I’m borderline diabetic–for whatever reason, I cannot handle sugary-sweet anything these days.  These cupcakes made me happy and didn’t give me any immediate hot flashes or make me feel wired.  And I think making them even helped to make me feel more calm and centered.  This recipe is a keeper.  Thank you Cook’s Illustrated!

DARK CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

(From Cook’s Illustrated, “American Classics 2009″)

(Makes 12 cupcakes; do not double recipe!  Make two separate batches if you need more.)

Ingredients

• 8 Tablespoons (1 stick) salted butter, cut into 4 pieces
• 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup (1 1/2 oz) Dutch-processed cocoa
• 3/4 cup (3 3/4 oz) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup (5 1/4 oz) sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup (4 oz) sour cream

Instructions:

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position; heat oven to 350 degrees.  Line standard-sized muffin pan (1/2 cup capacity) w/ baking-cup liners.

1. Combine butter, chocolate and cocoa in medium heatproof bowl.  Set bowl over saucepan containing barely simmering water; heat mixture until butter and chocolate are melted and whisk until smooth and fully combined.  Set aside to cool until just warm to touch.
2. Whisk flour, baking soda and baking powder in small bowl to combine.
3. Whisk eggs in second medium bowl to combine; add sugar, vanilla and salt and whisk until fully incorporated.  Add cooled chocolate mixture and whisk until combined.  Sift about one-third of flour mixture over chocolate mixture and whisk until combined; whisk in sour cream until combined; then sift in remaining flour mixture and whisk batter until it is homogenous and thick.
4. Divide batter evenly among muffin pan cups.  Bake until skewer inserted into center of cupcakes comes out clean, 18-20 minutes.
5. Cool cupcakes in muffin pan on wire rack until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes.  Carefully lift each cupcake from muffin pan and set on wire rack.  Cool to room temperature before icing, about 30 minutes.

Easy Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting 

If you prefer to skip the vanilla bean, increase the extract to 1 1/2 teaspoons. Any of the buttercream frostings (see related recipes) can be made ahead and refrigerated; if refrigerated, however, they must stand at room temperature to soften before use. If using a hand-held mixer, increase mixing times significantly (at least 50 percent). This recipe can be doubled to make enough for a two-layer cake.

Ingredients

 Instructions:

• 1. In standing mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat butter at medium-high speed until smooth, about 20 seconds.

2.  Using paring knife, scrape seeds from vanilla bean into butter and beat mixture at medium-high speed to combine, about 15 seconds.

3.  Add confectioners’ sugar and salt; beat at medium-low speed until most of the sugar is moistened, about 45 seconds. Scrape down bowl and beat at medium speed until mixture is fully combined, about 15 seconds; scrape bowl, add vanilla and heavy cream, and beat at medium speed until incorporated, about 10 seconds, then increase speed to medium-high and beat until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes, scraping down bowl once or twice.

Related posts:

1. Easy Recipe: or “Chocolate:How to make February disappear!”
2. Easy Savory Swiss Tart Recipe
3. Sadhvi Sez: Easy Swiss Tiramisu Recipe
4. Turning the Corner with Books, Recipes, and a Lesson in Patience
5. Easy Swiss Chestnut Soup Recipe!

Tags: easychocolatecupcakerecipe, easyrecipes, oopsrecipes, sadhvisezrecipe, womenover50recipes

This entry was posted on Friday, September 25th, 2009 at 11:19 am and is filed under Living, Main, Recipes/Food, Sadhvi Sez. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.