My Favorite Fudgy Cupcakes

by | | Desserts, Food, Headline, Recipes

cupcakes-chocolate-barbara-mckay

Our country has gone crazy for cupcakes. Bakeries are cashing in on them and franchises such as Sprinkles and Gigi’s Cupcakes are popping up everywhere.

I have always loved them! It’s nice that one of my favorite foods is so easy to find, but truthfully they are easy to make from scratch and will save you a whole lot of money.

Cupcakes are so versatile! They are such a special treat to find in a lunch box, offer as an after school snack and great for tailgating. Some of you have heard me say for years that moderation is the key to my enjoying all food, including yummy desserts, and a cupcake is all measured out for you…if you can eat just one!

Read on for my favorite fudgy cupcake recipe below!

fudgy cupcakes barbara mckay

Cake Ingredients

  • 1½ cups cake flour
  • ½ cup baking cocoa
  • 1 tsp. baking
  • soda
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • ½ cup water

Directions for cake:

Combine the cake flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a large mixer bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Beat in vanilla.

Combine the buttermilk and water. Alternately add the combined dry ingredients and the buttermilk water mixture to the creamed mixture.

Place 24 cupcake papers in muffin pans. Fill each 2/3 full. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Cool 10 minutes in pan and then move to wire racks to cool completely.

Frosting Ingredients

  • 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 3¾ cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. evaporated milk
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • Sprinkles

Directions for frosting:

Melt the chocolate and set aside. Cream the butter and confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Beat in the melted chocolate, milk, vanilla and salt. Frost cupcakes and garnish with sprinkles.

Makes 2 dozen

Decorating Tip: I like to match the sprinkles to the occasion, whether in team colors or holidays or school colors. I also like special cupcake papers and other creative toppers. I’ve discovered Fancy Flours, a wonderful source for beautiful cupcake papers, colorful sprinkles and other toppers. If you are making these for gifts, they even have clever packaging and presentation papers!

Tell me: What are you favorite kind of cupcakes?