Chocolate Cupcakes and Frosting

Chocolate Cupcakes

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cups cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners.

Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and baking powder into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Divide the batter into the prepared tins and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the tins for 15 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.

Chocolate Frosting

• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate
• ½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee powder, dissolved in very hot water

Chop the chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until just melted and set aside until cooled to room temperature.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until light yellow and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add in vanilla. Turn the mixer to low, gradually add the powdered sugar, then beat at medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary, until smooth and creamy. On low speed, add the chocolate and coffee to the butter mixture and mix until blended.

Holiday Baking Supplies

• Rolled Fondant Icing
• Paste Food Colors
• Edible Glitter
• Luster Dust
• Mini Rolling Pin
• Edible Ink Markers
• Cookie Cutters
• Sprinkles, Jimmies, Holiday Confetti
• Cupcake Display Tree

RETAIL STORES AND WEBSITES FOR HOLIDAY BAKING SUPPLIES

Vanilla Bean, Madison, WI                          http://www.vanillabeanonline.com/

Orange Tree Imports, Madison, WI    http://www.orangetreeimports.com/

Cook’s Specialty, West Allis, WI   http://www.cookscakeandcandy.com/RetailStore.asp

Michael’s Madison, WI                    http://www.michaels.com/

Wilton, IL                                           http://www.wilton.com/

J. B. Prince, New York                    http://jbprince.com/