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
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 FROSTING:
- 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
Barbara Bakes says
You had me a ganache filling.
Kathy Gori says
These are real killas!! wow! Can't wait to try these.
zurin says
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 :)))
zurin says
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 🙂
Julie says
I have no doubts these cupcakes would leave me drooling for more…yum!
Jennifer says
well I now have a killer craving if that means anything! Talk about alluring!!! They sound and look fab!!
ANCK says
Yummy =) I want some…
~RED~ says
I feel faint.. LOL it has ganache in it.. *faints* Beautriful beautiful job! Saving this one!
Ott, A. says
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.
eatsweetordiebitter.com says
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!
Susi says
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)
Catherine says
These cupcakes DO look killer! Wow! These look insanely good and chocolatey! Great post Kathleen…have a wonderful weekend!
ajcabuang04 says
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/
Ana Powell says
Hi Kathleen
Great work, your cupcakes are absolutely awesome ?
elra says
So delicious looking Kathleen, especially the shiny icing.
Nina Timm says
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!!
Chef Dennis says
those are beautiful cupcakes…so rich and chocolatey…..that frosting is calling to me!
Krista says
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!
Pam says
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!
Memória says
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.