Mother Nature remains silent on the subject of snow. I am sure she will punish us with some worst-in-a-century snow storm. Or perhaps she heard me complaining about the heat in the middle of June last year? Being 9 months pregnant kind of gives you that right, no?
Aaaanyways, our calendar still shows it’s Winter, so I will enjoy Winter-y treats.
Like hot chocolate.
In a frosting.
On a cupcake.
Because that’s how I roll. 🙂
And because last January, I was on no-sugar no-sweets no-baking diet and now I am not. Revenge? It’s sweeeeeet. 🙂
Chocolate Cupcakes
adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Bridal Edition Cookbook
3 eggs, room temperature
2 1/4 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c shortening
1 3/4 c granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/3 c cold water
Line your cupcake pan with cupcake liners. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together dry ingredients ( flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt ).
Place shortening in a large mixing bowl and beat for 30 seconds. Add sugar and vanilla and beat until well combined. Add eggs, one at a time and beat well after each addition.
Add flour mixture alternating with water. Beat until just combined.
Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full. Bake 18 – 20 minutes, until the toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool cupcakes in the pan for few minutes, then transfer onto a cooling rack.
Cool completely before frosting.
Makes 2 dozen cupcakes.
Hot Chocolate Frosting
8 oz cream cheese, cold
1/2 c ( 1 stick ) butter, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 1/2 -4 c powdered sugar
1 packet ( 1.25 oz ) hot chocolate mix ( I used Dark Chocolate Sensation by Swiss Miss )
Place butter in a large mixing bowl and beat on medium speed for 20 – 30 seconds.
Add cold cream cheese and vanilla extract and beat until light and creamy.
Add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time. Beat well. Add the hot chocolate mix and beat until well incorporated.
You can refrigerate it to stiffen it up a little or frost the cupcakes right away, and then refrigerate.
I used Wilton’s 1M tip to frost the cupcakes.
Julie says
June 16, 2012 at 6:24 pmThese Sound Fantastic!
Jenn Kendall says
January 31, 2012 at 2:40 amthese sound amazing!! hot chocolate icing sounds so delicious! thanks for sharing 🙂
Hannah says
January 30, 2012 at 12:21 pmYum, hot chocolate frosting sounds divine! gorgeous looking cupcakes!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
January 31, 2012 at 1:46 amThank you so much, Hannah!
Tabitha (a.k.a. Penny) says
January 29, 2012 at 2:58 amWow. I mean… Wow. I just want to stick my face in one of those cupcakes but that wouldn't be very lady-like, would it? Thanks for linking these at Weekend Potluck. (pinning these for sure!)
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
January 29, 2012 at 5:34 pmYou mean that that's what my Hubby was thinking when he saw me eating the first cupcake? lol 🙂 Thank you so much for pinning, commenting and for hosting such a fun event!
Simply Life says
January 28, 2012 at 5:30 pmoh these look PERFECT!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
January 29, 2012 at 5:27 pmAwww, thank you!
What's Baking?? says
January 28, 2012 at 1:49 pmGreetings, Anna. You have a lovely blog. Love your cupcakes.
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
January 28, 2012 at 5:15 pmThank you so much and welcome to CCS!
Ann says
January 28, 2012 at 3:03 amWhat a BRILLIANT idea! Hot chocolate frosting….pure genius! It looks so delicious! You know I'm not complaining about the cold! I'm not a cold weather person AT ALL!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
January 28, 2012 at 5:14 pmAwww, thank you, Ann 🙂
Katie says
January 28, 2012 at 1:51 amYour little cupcake wrappers are adorable!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
January 28, 2012 at 5:13 pmThank you, Katie 🙂
Lizzy says
January 28, 2012 at 1:23 amMy family loves cupcakes and I'm long overdue to bake a batch. They'd love your hot chocolate version…how fun!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
January 28, 2012 at 5:12 pmThank you, Lizzy! Hope you will try them 🙂
Jill | Dulce Dough says
January 27, 2012 at 10:05 pmThese cupcakes look amazing! Love that the frosting uses a packet of hot chocolate!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
January 28, 2012 at 5:11 pmThank you, Jill!
Tina says
January 27, 2012 at 7:19 pmUsing that hot chocolate mix for the frosting is a great idea, especially since there is so much variety of mixes out there these days! I do like the light milky color of the frosting-it does have the same color as hot chocolate. Also I do think that the milk chocolate flavor against the dark chocolate flavored cupcakes would be delicious. Great post. Enjoy the weekend!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
January 27, 2012 at 8:10 pmThank you so much, Tina! Have a great weekend!
Curry and Comfort says
January 27, 2012 at 6:00 pmNow that's a brilliant idea… hot chocolate frosting!! Wow!! Well done indeed! 🙂 Have a great weekend! ~ Ramona
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
January 27, 2012 at 8:04 pmAww, thank you, Ramona!
Samantha says
January 27, 2012 at 4:09 pmOh my, those look YUMMO! I usually am not a chocolate on chocolate kind of gal, but I could make an exception for those!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
January 27, 2012 at 4:42 pmThank you, Samantha! I hope you will try them!
Elpiniki says
January 27, 2012 at 8:49 amSo beautiful cupcakes! They look delicious!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
January 27, 2012 at 4:41 pmThank you 🙂
Sudha says
January 27, 2012 at 4:54 amHello Anna,
Hopped onto your lovely blog from Serena's place.I'm so glad to be here and you are such an amazing baker!!I'm your newest follower – do drop in my place too sometime:)Lovely meeting you!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
January 27, 2012 at 4:41 pmAwww, thank you so much, Sudha! Welcome to CCS!
Leanne @ Around the Table says
January 27, 2012 at 1:30 amChocolate+more chocolate is a great combo! Love it. They look so decadent!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
January 27, 2012 at 4:40 pmThank you so much, Leanne!
CulinaryCache says
January 27, 2012 at 12:24 amThese look delicious and I love the idea of hot chocolate frosting!
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
January 27, 2012 at 4:40 pmThank you so much!
Baking Addict says
January 27, 2012 at 12:03 amRevenge is definitely sweet 🙂 these look great!! I cant remember what I was doing last Jan! oh dear…
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
January 27, 2012 at 4:39 pmThank you:)
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
January 26, 2012 at 11:52 pmWhat an awesome idea! I've heard of putting it in just about everything else, but frosting tops the bunch.
Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
January 27, 2012 at 4:38 pmI hope you will try it – it's delicious! Thank you for your comment, Dorothy!