Rich, dense – just plain fantastic – may be my fav chocolate cupcakes! The ganache filling and the buttercream frosting hit it out of the park – Oh My!
Are you ready? Seriously, I mean it, are you ready?! This is the best chocolate cupcake you will evah eat! Big words. I get it. You’re not, yet, a believer. These cupcakes will bring you to the point of no return. You will believe me when I say this is the best evah. Heck, you’ll be leading the parade of the best evah yourself. Please just try these. You’re welcome already!!! I changed the frosting and again, you’ll be happy. I promise! Seriously, SUPER YUM!!!
Chocolate Cupcakes
Rich, dense - just plain fantastic - may be my fav chocolate cupcakes! The ganache filling and the buttercream frosting hit it out of the park - Oh My!
Servings: 8 -12 cupcakes
Ingredients
Ganache Filling:
- 2 Ounces Bittersweet Chocolate Finely Chopped
- 1/4 Cup Heavy Cream
- 1 Tablespoon Powdered Sugar
Chocolate Cupcakes:
- 3 Ounces Bittersweet Chocolate Finely Chopped
- 1/3 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 3/4 Cup Strong Brewed Coffee Hot
- 3/4 Cup Bread Flour
- 3/4 Cup Sugar
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 6 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
- 2 Eggs Large
- 2 Teaspoons White Vinegar
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Chocolate Frosting:
- 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter at Room Temperature
- 2 2/3 Cup Powdered Sugar Sifted
- 1/3 Cup Half and Half
- 1 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 3/4 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Instructions
FOR GANACHE FILLING:
- Place chocolate, cream, and confectioners' sugar in medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat in microwave on high power until mixture is warm to touch, 20 to 30 seconds. Whisk until smooth; transfer bowl to refrigerator and let stand until just chilled, no longer than 30 minutes.
FOR CUPCAKES:
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard-size muffin pan (cups have ½-cup capacity) with baking cup liners. Place chocolate and cocoa in medium bowl. Pour hot coffee over mixture and whisk until smooth. Set in refrigerator to cool completely, about 20 minutes. Whisk flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.
- Whisk oil, eggs, vinegar, and vanilla into cooled chocolate-cocoa mixture until smooth. Add flour mixture and whisk until smooth.
- Divide batter evenly among muffin pan cups. Place one slightly rounded teaspoon ganache filling on top of each cupcake. Bake until cupcakes are set and just firm to touch, 17 to 19 minutes. Cool cupcakes in muffin pan on wire rack until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Carefully lift each cupcake from muffin pan and set on wire rack. Cool to room temperature before frosting, about 1 hour.
FOR GANACHE FILLING:
- For Frosting. Cream the butter in a small bowl until light and smooth.
- Blend in the cocoa, vanilla, powdered sugar, alternating with the half and half. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes. YUM
- Source: Adapted From Cook's Illustrated
Fans Also Made:
None found
Rate This RecipeNutrition
Calories: 629kcal | Carbohydrates: 85g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 248mg | Potassium: 350mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 65g | Vitamin A: 460IU | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 3.3mg
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Wow! Triple chocolate threat…my family would adore these!
OMG… I want these right now!! Amazing pics Momma!!!
Oh, those look unreal! Delicious!
These look divine! Oh my!
Yes, please!
If they taste as good as they look, that will be fine for me.
Mimi
I stumbled upon your site and the minute I saw this particular post I though, “Hello, cupcake. Let's be best friends.” Wow. I know that these will, indeed, be the “best evah”. Can't wait to try them, thanks!
~Bethany
http://www.brkfstatbethanys.blogspot.com
LOVE Cooks Illustrated and your cupcake pictures are simply delectable! 🙂
I finally tried these out like I said I would. I was a bit wary about doing it because as I said in my first comment, I already have a go-to recipe (Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate) for chocolate cake. However, this cake was phenomenal. I can't say that it was better or worse than my go-to recipe; it was just more “elegant” than the previous because the go-to calls for only cocoa powder (I also use espresso/boiling water and buttermilk to make it richer). Anyway, I even used the bread flour even though I was tempted to use AP flour. I made a vanilla bean frosting instead of chocolate because I wanted a contrast from the chocolate cake and ganache. Thank you for this great recipe! It will now be a permanent member of my chocolate cake recipes but will be used for more special events since it's more involved than my go-to.
This look, umm, well, totally awesome! Chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate…definitely will make these..thanks:)
These really look like killas. Awesome job Kathleen!
Wow, such perfection! And mounds of frosting plus ganache filling – definitely killa!
I believe you, Kathleen! WOW. Copying the recipe right now!!
These look like some serious killa cupcakes-wow! beautiful. These would not last an hour at my house.
Wow! This recipe sound perfect for a chocolate lover like me.
These cupcakes really look great!! They're perfect for a birthday! The only time of year that I bake cupcakes is Valentine's Day. I make these Be My Valentine Cupcakes for my special someone! Thanks for sharing!
Seriously, I would care for that. It is chocolate!!!!
Mmmmm they do look niiiice and chocolatey! 😀 😀
Oh my goodness these look ridiculously chocolate-y!! I can't wait to try them when the chocolate craving hits 🙂
These look super chocolate-y and delicious. I think the switch up on the frostings is perfect 🙂
i almost wonder if my mouth could handle all that chocolate goodness! these are absolutely sensational, kathleen. i guess i'll hafta make 'em myself to get a glance at those innards. 🙂
Chocolate cupcakes with chocolte frosting and ganache filling — I'm in heaven! They're gorgeous too, your piping is perfect!
Yum, I love all that luscious chocolate flavor, especially when topped with a rich chocolate icing. It doesn't get any better than this when I have a chocolate craving.
If I'm going to do this, I need to learn to pipe like you do. That's where I don't have the gear or the patience! Gorgeous looking cupcakes.
Yum, yum, yum!! I'm surprised about the bread flour, though…I'm going to have to try them 🙂
wow those look seriously decadent!
This sounds and looks wonderful. The addition of the ganache filling put's them over the top delicious.
I'm going to go ahead and say I bet they are the best ever…chocolate cupcakes with ganache filling and chocolate frosting – whoa! Seriously delicious.
I'm laughing though because I have chocolate brownies with Kittencal's frosting downstairs in my kitchen right now:)
You had me a ganache filling.
These are real killas!! wow! Can't wait to try these.
OOOPS my fault. I didnt read teh recipe properly. Iknow where the ganache goes now ! 😀 OOH no wonder its a killer choc cup cake! m tryng htis for sure! THanks :)))
This sounds and looks awesome! Ill have to try these. btw just one question. what dyu do with the ganache? Hope u can help me out there 🙂
n thanks for dropping by 🙂
I have no doubts these cupcakes would leave me drooling for more…yum!
well I now have a killer craving if that means anything! Talk about alluring!!! They sound and look fab!!
Yummy =) I want some…
I feel faint.. LOL it has ganache in it.. *faints* Beautriful beautiful job! Saving this one!
That icing looks so amazingly good. I want to eat my monitor just sitting here looking at it. I've never tried a chocolate buttercream so this I may have to try. Tahnks for posting.
Whoa whoa whoa. I love this recipe, it looks really comprehensive and positively tasty! I am bookmarking this for sure- I am always on the lookout for chocolate cake recipes. Thanks for sharing!
These cupcakes look amazing for all chocolate cupcakes. My teenage daughter would go nuts for these! I will have to bookmark them and make them for those times I need to “bribe” her ;o)
These cupcakes DO look killer! Wow! These look insanely good and chocolatey! Great post Kathleen…have a wonderful weekend!
These look beyond good!! YUM!! You can never go wrong with chocolate in my opinion. Looks super decadent!!
Would you mind checking out my blog? 😀 http://ajscookingsecrets.blogspot.com/
Hi Kathleen
Great work, your cupcakes are absolutely awesome ?
So delicious looking Kathleen, especially the shiny icing.
Sounds easy enough even for a non-baker like me. A photo of my family when I present them with a plate full of these, will be priceless!!
those are beautiful cupcakes…so rich and chocolatey…..that frosting is calling to me!
Bookmarking this for my daughter's birthday. She is a huge fan of chocolate (just like me). And I love Cook's Illustrated! These look wonderful. Thank you for posting the recipe!
They look great! I'm not a huge fan of chocolate but, my hubby is so this is bookmarked. I love Cooks Illustrated though, and I know they are delicious!
Your cupcakes look absolutely perfect, and this recipe has tempted me to stray away from my go-to recipe for chocolate cake. Amazing photos! I wish I could pipe this well.