I set out to make two flavours of cupcakes and split the two batches between the girls.
As a practising chocoholic and knowing they're always a hit, I made one batch of super-rich, super-dense chocolate cupcakes. These were decorated with a dark chocolate ganache and stencilled icing sugar patterns of stars and hearts. The decorating, however, was somewhat halted when after sitting for an hour the icing sugar patterns dissolved!
Knowing that children usually prefer cooking with milk chocolate (rather than dark), I usually use a combination of half dark and half milk chocolate. This time I used all 70% cocoa chocolate, with a 45% ganache as my friend Audrey adores dark chocolate.
I was very pleased to find that my 3 year old nephew adored the chocolate cupcakes regardless.
Deliciously Decadent Chocolate Cupcakes
(makes approximately 20 cupcakes which do not rise considerably)
250ml thickened cream
450g dark chocolate
5 eggs
3/4 cup castor sugar
1 cup plain flour
1 tbs cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
METHOD:
1. Pre-heat oven to 160°C, prepare patty pans.
2. Stir cream and chocolate in a bowl over previously boiling water (do not let bowl touch water) until chocolate is melted and there is a smooth, even consistency. Cool slightly.
3. Place eggs and sugar in bowl and beat with electric mixer until pale and doubled in volume.
4. Slowly add the chocolate mixture into the egg-sugar, while beating.
5. Sift in flour, cocoa and baking powder, then stir with metal spoon until combined.
6. Bake for 20-30 minutes until inserted skewer comes out clean.
Chocolate Ganache for Icing
100g dark chocolate
80ml cream
METHOD:
Place chocolate and cream into a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir until chocolate has melted.
If eating immediately, remove cakes from patty pans and serve covered with sauce.
OR
Let sauce cool completely in refrigerator. Ice cupcakes when both cupcakes and sauce are cooled.
I use silicon, non-stick patty pans which require no greasing and cupcakes fall out easily. I find these cheaply in supermarkets, baking and 2-dollar stores.
Along with the chocolate cupcakes, I made Orange and Poppyseed: The ultimate Audrey delight.
My friend Audrey has a health-crazed mother, and growing up was not allowed sweets.
At school when we children were treated with muffin bars, biscuits and other sugar-filled foods, Audrey had carrot sticks or occasionally sultanas!
The darling girl told me that when we were in school together she loved coming to my house to play in particular. She admitted that a huge reason for this was the Orange and Poppyseed supermarket cakes that my mother often had in the house, that we were allowed to have. Living in a sweet-free house this was quite a treat, and remembering this I realised that Orange and Poppyseed was her flavour.
Orange and Poppyseed Cupcakes for Audrey
(makes approximately 18 cupcakes)
1 tbs poppyseeds
2 tbs milk
2 cups SR flour
1 tbs grated orange rind
1/2 cup castor sugar
125g butter
1/4 cup orange marmalade
2 eggs
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
(orange juice and rind equates to that of one orange)
METHOD:
1. Preheat oven to 160°C and prepare patty pans.
2. Soak poppseeds in milk, set aside.
3. Place SR flour and orange rind with castor sugar in bowl and stir to combine.
4. Melt butter and marmalade in saucepan over medium heat.
5. Stir marmalade mix into flour mixture with eggs, orange juice and milk mixture until combined.
6. Spoon into patty pans, bake for 20-30 minutes, until inserted skewer comes out clean.
Lemon Cream Cheese Icing
(Ideal for Orange and Poppyseed Cupcakes)
125g cream cheese at room temp
3/4 cups icing sugar
2 tbs fresh lemon juice
(lemon juice required equates to that of one lemon)
METHOD:
Use electric mixer to beat cream cheese and icing sugar until soft.
Beat in lemon juice until light and fluffy.
Place in fridge for one hour or until icing thickens.
Spread icing over cooled cupcakes!
I coloured half of the icing with red food dye, and a portion of it yellow and used a piping bag to create the hearts.
These cupcakes should be chilled or the icing will melt!
Both girls (and their children) adored the cupcakes!
Happy baking!
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