Thursday, May 22, 2008

stephanie's cupcake heaven

my good friend stephanie is coming over for dinner tonight. we are having steak with chimichurri, parmesan corn and arugula salad, pics later. i had to treat her with her fave dessert, chocolate cupcakes. as a wedding photographer, i see cupcakes way too often and am honestly sick of the LA cupcake obsession. but i'm always happy to indulge someone else's favorites selflessly and i have to say i'm actually pretty excited to eat these. they are dark chocolate cupcakes adapted from a cooks illustrated recipe with the addition of milkchocolate/caramel chips with dark and white chocolate ganache frostings. they are very rich. enjoy.







Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

This recipe does not double very well. Cupcakes made from a doubled batch and baked side by side in the oven yield a slightly compromised rise. It's best to make two separate batches and bake each separately. Store leftover cupcakes (frosted or unfrosted) in the refirgerator, but let them come to room temperature before serving.

Makes 12 cupcakes

8 tablespoons unsalted butter , cut into 4 pieces
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate , chopped
1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa (1 1/2 ounces)
3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour (3 3/4 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar (5 1/4 ounces)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/2 cup sour cream (4 ounces)
add chocolate chips as desired, i like toll house caramel/milk chocolate swirl in these


1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position; heat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard-sized muffin pan (cups have 1/2-cup capacity) with baking-cup liners.

2. Combine butter, chocolate, and cocoa in medium heatproof bowl. Set bowl over saucepan containing barely simmering water; heat mixture until butter and chocolate are melted and whisk until smooth and combined. Set aside to cool until just warm to the touch.

3. Whisk flour, baking soda, and baking powder in small bowl to combine.

4. Whisk eggs in second medium bowl to combine; add sugar, vanilla, and salt and whisk until fully incorporated. Add cooled chocolate mixture and whisk until combined. Sift about one-third of flour mixture over chocolate mixture and whisk until combined; whisk in sour cream until combined, then sift remaining flour mixture over and whisk until batter is homogenous and thick. add chocolate chips if desired.

5. Divide batter evenly among muffin pan cups. Bake until skewer inserted into center of cupcakes comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes.

6. Cool cupcakes in muffin pan on wire rack until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes. Carefully lift each cupcake from muffin pan and set on wire rack. Cool to room temperature before icing, about 30 minutes. (To frost: Mound about 2 tablespoons icing on center of each cupcake. Using small icing spatula or butter knife, spread icing to edge of cupcake, leaving slight mound in center.)


Dark Chocolate Ganache Frosting
10 oz. chopped good quality dark chocolate
10 oz. heavy cream

microwave in heat proof bowl at 50% in 1 minute intervals till melted and smooth. stir to blend. let sit and room temp till set which takes a few hours to overnight. bring to room temp then whip in standing mixer till fluffy, 2 minutes.

White Chocolate Ganache Frosting
10 oz. white chocolate
6 oz. heavy cream

microwave in heat proof bowl at 50% in 1 minute intervals till melted and smooth. stir to blend. let sit and room temp till set which takes a few hours to overnight. bring to room temp then whip in standing mixer till fluffy, 2 minutes.

*you can speed up the ganache setting but setting the bowl in a bath of cold water but if you refrigerate then whip it will break down



4 comments:

Chelsea Elizabeth said...

OMG!!! Those look AMAZING! I wish I hadn't seen them because I'm going to be thinking about them ALL NIGHT! I don't think golden spoon's going to cut it ;)

Karyn said...

Jen, those look amazing! Is that what you're serving @ Chelsea's shower? If so, I can't wait!!!

n/a said...

I think you found your calling!!!! This blog rules.
Except for the fact that it makes me hungry.
;)
xo

Wendy said...

Love your blog! These cupcakes look amazing!