Cupcake Cafe Chocolate Cake Food

ULTRA MOIST STARBUCKS CHOCOLATE CAKE (OR CUPCAKES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• In a large bowl, whisk eggs, canola oil, vanilla and black coffee (cooled) together.
• Stir in sugar, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda and baking powder.
• Alternate stirring in flour and milk.
• Don't worry if batter seems runny to you, this is normal and makes the cake so moist!
• Pour batter into two greased 9-inch round cake pans.
• Or if you're making cupcakes, line two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake papers. Spoon (or pour) the batter into the cups about three-quarters full.
• Bake the 2 cake pans for 25 minutes or cupcakes for 20-23 minutes. (Toothpick will come out clean when cake is done.).
• After cake has cooled, remove and frost with your favorite icing. (I like Magnolia Bakery's Buttercream Frosting, recipe #139518).
• TIP: I've found that the cupcakes get even more moist when stored overnight in a Tupperware container.
• Frosting Instructions: It is really easy to create the two-tone icing as shown in the photo above. Make your favorite buttercream icing recipe and divide it into 4 equal batches. Then add a dab of food coloring to each batch (I like Wilton's Icing Colors gels, purchased my local Michael's Craft Store). I used 4 different Wilton colors -- yellow, pink, sky blue and leaf green. Use a long metal spatula to fill a pastry bag with 2 colors. Put one color down each side of the bag. When you twist the top of the bag closed, the colors will form "striped" icing. Use the Wilton 2D Drop Flower tip to decorate the cupcakes, starting on the outer edge of the cupcake and working your way to the center in a circular motion. Each cupcake will be unique and beautiful!

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and set two oven racks in the centermost positions. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds to combine. Add the eggs, oil, sour cream, and vanilla and mix on low speed until combined.
• Increase the speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes. Then, reduce the speed to low and gradually pour in the hot water (be careful to pour very slowly so it doesn't splash). The batter will be soupy. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl; mix again until evenly combined.
• Pour the batter evenly into the prepared muffin tins (they should be about halfway full). Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the cupcakes are set and a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
• Cool the cupcakes in the pans for about 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and cook in the microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring in between, until about three-quarters of the way melted. Stir, allowing the residual heat in the bowl to melt the remaining chocolate completely. (If necessary, place the chocolate back in microwave for a few seconds.) Set aside to cool.
• In a food processor, process the butter, sugar, cocoa powder and salt until smooth, about 30 seconds, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the corn syrup and vanilla and process until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the lukewarm chocolate and pulse until smooth and creamy, 10 to 15 seconds. Do not overmix. The frosting can be used immediately or held at room temperature for up to 3 hours.
• When the cupcakes are completely cool, use a small offset spatula or butter knife to swirl the frosting lavishly over top. The cupcakes are best enjoyed fresh on the day they are made, but they will keep for two days stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
• Note: If making this cake for children, I recommend using milk chocolate for the frosting (Hershey or Lindt milk chocolate bars work well). Semi-sweet chocolate will lend a more intense chocolate flavor (Ghirardelli bars for baking are ideal).

THE BEST CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners.
• Whisk together the cake flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk together the buttermilk, coffee, oil, eggs and vanilla in a separate bowl.
• Pour half of the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and beat on low speed just until combined. Scrape down the bowl then add the remaining wet ingredients and beat to combine. Scrape down the bowl and paddle. Increase the speed to medium and beat for a full minute.
• Fill the prepared cupcake tins 2/3 of the way full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of each comes out clean and the top springs back when lightly pressed, 15 to 18 minutes.
• For the frosting: Melt the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl set over simmering water in a medium saucepan. Remove from the simmering water and let it cool until room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Beat the butter and salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low, drizzle in the melted chocolate and beat until completely blended. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla. Increase the speed to high and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer the frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Decoratively pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a muffin pan with paper or foil liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk; beat well. Fill the muffin cups 3/4 full.
• Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Frost with your favorite frosting when cool.

CUPCAKE CAFE CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Butter two 10-inch round layer cake pans and dust them with cocoa.
• Or butter and line with parchment.
• Preheat the oven to 350° F.
• Cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar.
• Beat in the eggs, then melt the chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water and allow it to cool.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cocoa.
• Add the vanilla to the buttermilk.
• Add the cooled melted chocolate to the eggs and butter.
• Then alternately mix in the dry ingredients and the buttermilk.
• Fill your pans about half full with batter.
• Bake in the preheated oven about 40 to 45 minutes.
• Insert a straw or cake tester into the centers of layers.
• If it comes out clean (i. e., without any batter sticking to it) the cake is done and should be removed from the oven.
• The cakes can also be tested for doneness by pressing on them gently in the center.
• If they have a slightly springy feel, they are ready to come out.
• Cool and frost as desired.

CUPCAKE CAFE VANILLA CAKE

Steps:

• Butter or spray two 8 or 9 inch cake pans and line the bottom with parchment. Preheat the oven to 350.
• Cream butter and sugar together; beat in yolks; add vanilla and set aside.
• Sift dry ingredients together.
• Beat egg whites to soft peaks.
• Mix dry ingredients and buttermilk alternately (in three increments starting with the dry ingredients) into the egg/butter mixture - do not overbeat.
• Fold in the egg whites.
• Fill pans about 2/3 full and bake for about 35-40 minutes until a tester comes out clean - cakes should feel slightly springy when pressed in the middle.