Chocolate Cupcakes

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I usually don't celebrate Valentine's Day but this year, I decided that today would be a great day to bake some cupcakes. I love cooking in general but I really love making desserts. I mostly bake whenever I had free time or when I feel like it, but I have baked for special occasions before. 

So in the spirit of Valentine's Day, I decided to bake chocolate cupcakes! The recipe I used was from a cupcake book that I have - I've never ever used this book before so I had no idea how this recipe would turn out as it was a little different to how I would usually make chocolate cupcakes. But in the end they turned out super yummy! In the book they're called "Valentine Heart Cupcakes" but essentially they're chocolate cupcakes.

Here's the recipe: 

-  6 tbsp butter, softened 

- generous 3/8 cup superfine sugar 

- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 

- 2 eggs, lightly beaten 

- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 

- 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa (* scroll down for a tip)

- 1 tsp baking powder 

I also made chocolate frosting to spread on top of the cupcakes.

For the frosting:

- 4 tbsp butter, softened

- 1 cup confectioners' sugar 

- 1 oz/25 g semisweet chocolate, melted 

Method:

- Put cupcake cases in a cupcake pan and preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius 

- Beat together butter, sugar and vanilla extract until light and fluffy 

- Gradually add the eggs - beat well after each addition 

- Sift the flour, cocoa and baking powder into the mixture - using a spoon, FOLD into the mixture

- spoon batter into the cupcake cases 

Then you bake them for about 20-15 minutes, or until they have risen and firm to the touch. To test if they're cooked you can use a thin metal stick to poke into the cupcakes. If the metal stick comes out clean then they are done. 

To make the frosting: 

- Beat the butter until fluffy 

- Sift in the confectioners' sugar and beat until smooth 

- Add the melted chocolate and beat together until well mixed

Spread the frosting on top once the cupcakes have cooled. I then added some shaved chocolate and an edible sugar heart on top. 

*Note: Honestly, most of the chocolate taste came from the frosting, so If you'd like the actual cupcake to have more chocolate just add some more cocoa powder 

I hope everyone is having a lovely Valentine's Day, whether you're relaxing on your own, hanging out with your friends or spending the day with your significant other. I'll see you guys in my next post! take care!