Hot Cocoa Cupcakes

Hot cocoa is one of the things about winter that I really love and look forward to throughout the year. I have never really been a huge fan of winter otherwise; don't get me wrong, I love the winter sports and fashion and the pretty snowfall, but other than that winter has always just been the season that I want over soonest. That being said, these cupcakes are inspired by one of my only favorite things about winter. I was highly tempted to eat one while drinking hot cocoa, but my waistline told me I better not. 

Hot Cocoa Cupcakes

Yields 24+ {about 30}

Cupcakes:

1 cup butter

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup - 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tbsp hot cocoa powder

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flower

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

4 eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup almond milk

Frosting

1 cup butter

2-3 cups confectioner's sugar

Marshmallow {see recipe below}

Marshmallow:

1 egg white

3/4 cup corn syrup

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1 tbsp vanilla

Directions:

Melt the butter and chocolate together in the microwave.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and baking powder.

In a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat the eggs, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla together until smooth.

Add the cooled butter/chocolate and beat until smooth.

While still beating, add half of the flour mixture, then half of the almond milk.

Repeat until everything is added. Stir until just combined

Bake on 350 for 20-25 minutes

Make the marshmallow by beating the egg white on high for about 5 minutes to form stiff peaks. Beat in the corn syrup.

Beat in the confectioner's sugar a little at a time until it is completely combined. Beat in the vanilla, and continue beating for 2 to 3 minutes until the marshmallow has a fluffy texture {and when I say "fluffy" I mean like fluff, the marshmallow spread; I am hilarious}.

For the frosting, beat the butter alone for about 2 minutes, then add the confectioner's sugar a half cup at a time until the two of them are combined.

Slowly beat in the marshmallow.

Pipe the frosting with a circle tip onto the cooled cupcakes.

Top with peppermint bark and drizzled chocolate.

Chocolate Creme Brulee Cupcakes

It has been an absolutely insane amount of time since I have written a blog post, and that makes me so sad! I have been so busy baking for the holidays, and taking those stupid final exams, that finding a couple hours of sunlight to bake and take pictures is nearly impossible! Also I got a job as a retail photographer {yayy! not like anyone cares, but whatever}, but unfortunately my personal camera is broken and I cannot afford a new one so some of these pictures are out of focus :(.  Ok, so back to talking about the recipe. Chocolate and Creme Brulee are two of my most favorite things ever! The recipe for the custard I used in these cupcakes is actually the recipe that I use to make Creme Brulee in general, so I assure you it is just magical. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

Chocolate Creme Brulee Cupcakes

Yields 24+ {about 30}

Cupcakes

1 cup butter

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flower

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

4 eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup almond milk

Custard:


1 tbsp vanilla 

2 cups heavy cream

1/2 + 1 tbsp granulated sugar

5 egg yolks

1/4 cup brown sugar

Directions:

Melt the butter and chocolate together in the microwave.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and baking powder.

In a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat the eggs, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla together until smooth.

Add the cooled butter/chocolate and beat until smooth.

While still beating, add half of the flour mixture, then half of the almond milk.

Repeat until everything is added. Stir until just combined

Bake on 350 for 20-25 minutes

Use a melon baller or a teaspoon paring knife to core the cupcakes. This is where the custard is going to go.

Now for the custard. In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring the vanilla, granulated sugar, and one cup of the cream to a boil. Stir almost continually to avoid a skin forming. After the mixture has boiled, set aside to cool for about 10 minutes.

After the time has gone by, pour the remaining cream into the mixture to help cool it down. Whisk while pouring.

In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks to break them apart. While still whisking, pour the cream mixture into the bowl. Whisk until everything is evenly combined.

For the water bath, put a kitchen towel in a roasting pan, and fill it with about an inch of hot water. Pour the custard into ramekins, put the ramekins into the water bath, and put the water bath into the oven. 

Bake on 300 for 30 minutes.

They will be done when the jiggle slightly when shaken.

Take them out of the roasting pan and put them on a rack to cool. 

Assembly:

Using a spoon, scoop some of the cooled custard into the cored cupcakes.

Pinch some of the brown sugar in your fingers and sprinkle it on top of the custard.

There is the blurry picture I warned you about! :(

Using a kitchen torch, caramelize the sugar on top of the custard.

And lastly before the sugar cools, place a raspberry (or other garnish) on top so it sets into the hardened sugar.

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Nothing says "fall" quite like anything and everything pumpkin spice! These pumpkin spice cupcakes are no exception, and the cream cheese frosting on top makes them even better! Hopefully these cupcakes will keep you in the fall mood {it is November, after all!} while the malls and stores are already playing their Christmas music. 

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Yields 24+ {about 30}

Cupcakes:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup cornstarch 

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cloves

1 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp ginger

3/4 cup butter

2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3 eggs

1 (15 oz) can pumpkin

1 cup almond milk


Frosting:

1 cup butter

3 cups cream cheese

1 tsp vanilla

4-6 cups confectioners' sugar





Directions: 

Sift and then whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger. Set aside.


Beat together the butter, white sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. When all of the eggs have been added and combined, add the pumpkin and mix until thoroughly combined. 

While still beating, add half of the flour mixture, then half of the almond milk.

Repeat until everything is added. Stir until just combined

Bake on 350 for 20-25 minutes

For the frosting, beat together the butter and sugar until smooth without any lumps of butter. Beat in the vanilla.

Add the confectioners' sugar one cup at a time and beat until you achieve your desired texture/thickness with the sugar. If your frosting is not firming up because of the surrounding temperature {if your house is really warm}, put the frosting in the refrigerator before frosting your cupcakes.

Frost the cupcakes with a star tip, and top with sprinkled cinnamon.

Mocha Pumpkin Cupcakes

Apple season has almost wrapped up, and now it's time for pumpkin! Everyone loves pumpkin coffee, and I really love chocolate, so why not have mocha pumpkin? The espresso powder added to the chocolate makes it extra rich, and the pumpkin frosting is a perfect seasonal balance to it! Enjoy!

Yields 24+ {about 30}

Cupcakes:

1 cup butter

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tbsp finely ground instant espresso powder

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flower

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

4 eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup almond milk

Frosting:

1/4 cup butter

1 1/2 cups cream cheese

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup pumpkin

1 heaping tsp cinnamon

1/2 heaping tsp cloves

3 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions:

Melt the butter and chocolate together in the microwave.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, espresso powder, flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and baking powder.

In a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat the eggs, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla together until smooth.

Add the cooled butter/chocolate and beat until smooth.

While still beating, add half of the flour mixture, then half of the almond milk.

Repeat until everything is added. Stir until just combined

Bake on 350 for 20-25 minutes

For the frosting, beat together the butter and cream cheese until it is smooth with no lumps of butter. Beat in the vanilla and pumpkin.

Add the sugar a cup at a time until all beaten in. Add the cinnamon and nutmeg and beat well.

Pipe with a circle tip and top with sprinkled espresso powder.