Now tell me that isn't the fanciest damn cupcake you have ever seen--- someone make without any culinary teaching--- in their 1br apt kitchen-- everrrrrrr!!
The best part is?! Super easy! Anyone can do it! And it's perfect for valentines day; whether you have someone you can make it for, or just a good old fashion cupcake pick me up- I don't need a guy in my life snack!
Here we go!!
For the cupcakes:
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp flour
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup of milk
- 1/4 cup of canola oil
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 cup boiling water
Directions:
-- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
-- Line a muffin tray with cupcake liners.
-- Mix together the dry ingredients into a large bowl.
-- Add the egg, milk, oil, and vanilla then beat together with a mixer until combined.
-- Scrape the sides of your mixing bowl and add the boiling water and mix until just combined.
**The mix will be very watery!!!! it's ok!**
-- Pour the batter 2/3 of the way full in each cupcake liner.
-- Place into the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted into the center and comes out clean!
Don't get excited just because they smell delicious and they're out of the oven!! Let those chocolate pieces of heaven cool down before you start the next step!!!!
THIS IS IMPORTANT!! 1) you won't burn you little fingers 2) if you try this next part to soon, your going to squish the crap out of your cupcakes.
So what do you do while their cooling? Grab your double boiler and set your dark chocolate chips a melting!!!
Here's what you need for your dark chocolate accents!
Dark chocolate fondue chips (the kind that harden when cooled)
A double boiler
Wax paper
A decorating pen (found this gem at sur la table!)
Once your water is boiling add a cupe of chocolate chips- stir constantly until melted into a nice smooth consistency.
Lay out a large piece of wax paper.
Fill you pen up with the melted chocolate and draw hearts with the pen. ( you can draw really anything here but valentines day and all...) I find them less fragile and prettier if you create zebra lines within the heart, instead of just a solid boring heart.
Let this cool! Do not place in the fridge or freezer, the fat it the chocolate seperate a and will looks weird!
Now that your cupcakes have cooled, it's time to cut out the holes in the cupcake for your filling!!
The easiest way to do this is by purchasing a cupcake corer. I am a fan of gadgets, and this one is amazeballssssss.
Press the corer into the center of the cupcake. Go to just under the first line, you do not want your hole to deep, or the cupcakes will fall apart. Twist the corer as your pulling up and then empty the insides into a bowl (Use left overs for a trifle!) by pressing down the plunger!
Once that is done, go ahead and fill with your favorite pie filling! I choose raspberry because it has a great taste and color! And it goes well with chocolate!
Spoon the filing into each well until it reaches the top.
Don't they look yummy?!???!???? I think they do! But wait! There's more! It's time to frost! Now I could wait and make my own frosting, but honestly? Betty Crocker knows what she's doing! Use the vanilla whipped frosting! And frost those puppies!!! Add some rainbow sprinkles for some color!!!
Now remember those yummy dark chocolate hearts we made?! They should be ready to go at this point.
BE CAREFUL WITH THESE THINGS!!!
When I say fragile I mean fragile. The easiest way I found was to pick up the wax paper and slowly bend it away from the chocolate. The accent slowly parts from the wax paper. Carefully pick it up and gently place into the cupcake.
Refrigerate for 1 hour.
And voila! It's delicious, it looks fancy! And it tastes like a jelly donut and a cake got together and made a baby.
