Whipped Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes Food

CHOCOLATE GANACHE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. Combine the cocoa powder and 1/4 cup water in a small bowl until smooth; set aside. Put the unsweetened chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted; set aside and let cool.
• Sift the flour and baking soda into a large bowl; stir in the salt. Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a separate large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the cocoa mixture and the melted chocolate; mix until combined. Beat in the flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the milk in two batches, until combined. Beat in the liqueur.
• Divide the batter among the prepared muffin cups, filling them three-quarters of the way. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes in the pan, then remove the cupcakes to a rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the ganache: Combine the semisweet chocolate, 1 cup heavy cream and the salt in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water; stir until melted and smooth, about 8 minutes. Remove the bowl from the saucepan and set aside until the ganache is cool and thick (but not hard), about 1 hour.
• Beat the remaining 1/3 cup heavy cream and the confectioners' sugar in a large bowl with a mixer until soft peaks form. Fold in 1/4 cup of the cooled ganache until smooth. Cut a small hole (about 1/2 inch deep) into the center of each cupcake with a paring knife; remove the cake. Use a small measuring spoon to fill the hole with the chocolate whipped cream.
• Beat the remaining ganache with a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. (Be careful not to overbeat or the ganache will become grainy.) Transfer the whipped ganache to a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and pipe onto the cupcakes. Top with shaved white chocolate.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH WHIPPED GANACHE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 18 to 20 cups of 2 standard (12-cup) muffin pans with baking cups. Sift cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and 3/4 teaspoon salt into the bowl of a mixer. Beat on low speed until just combined.
• Raise speed to medium, and add eggs, buttermilk, water, oil, and vanilla. Beat until smooth, about 3 minutes.
• Divide batter among baking cups, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake until tops spring back when touched with a finger, 20 to 22 minutes. Let cool completely in pans set on wire racks.
• Place a mound of whipped ganache (about 3 tablespoons) on top of each cupcake, and frost each using a small spoon or a small offset spatula to create swoops.

WHIPPED CHOCOLATE GANACHE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Beat together all of ingredients until smooth batter forms, reserving the chocolate chips if using.
• Mix in the chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.
• Divide batter evenly in two (12-count) cupcake tins. Bake for 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool completely.
• Over low heat (or in the microwave) heat the cream and butter until bubbling. Remove from heat and add the chocolate chips. Whisk until smooth and melted.
• Let cool to room temperature (you can speed this up by placing it in the fridge for about 45 minutes, but don't let it get so hard that it's not easily scooped with a spoon).
• Transfer cooled ganache to a stand mixer, and use the whisk attachment to whip until fluffy, about 4-5 minutes.
• Add up to 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1-3 tablespoons of milk to adjust the consistency if desired.
• Pipe or spread onto cooled cupcakes.

WHIPPED CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Chop the chocolate and place it in a medium bowl.
• Heat the cream steamy, and until small bubbles start to form around the outer edges (this can be done in a small pot on the stove, or in the microwave). Be careful it doesn't boil over!
• Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate, and allow it to stand for about 5 minutes.
• Whisk the ganache until smooth, then allow it to set. (This can be done at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Whisk it every 10 minutes to keep it smooth and lump-free.)
• When the ganache is firm but still soft, transfer it to a mixing bowl and whip it on high speed until fluffy (about 3 to 4 minutes).

WHIPPED CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Place chocolate in large metal mixing bowl.
• Heat cream to boiling, either on the stove, or in the microwave.
• Pour hot cream over chocolate and stir until chocolate is melted.
• Add powdered sugar, sm amt at a time to taste.
• Place the bowl, uncovered, in refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes, but no longer than 1 hour. Also place the electric mixer beaters to chill.
• Remove bowl and beaters from fridge and whip ganache on high for 2-3 minutes, or until it lightens in color and triples in volume.
• Use as desired on cake or cupcakes.

WHIPPED CHOCOLATE GANACHE FILLING (OR FROSTING)

Steps:

• Place chopped chocolate in a medium-sized bowl.
• Heat heavy cream and sugar (if using) in a large heavy saucepan over med-hi heat until it simmers gently.
• Immediately pour the hot cream over the chocolate and stir gently until the chocolate is mostly melted.
• Let stand for 15mins to be sure all chocolate is melted.
• Stir ganache gently until perfectly smooth, let cool.
• Cover and chill for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight (it must be very cold or it will curdle when it's whipped; ganache can be made up to 4 days ahead).
• When you're ready to assemble the cake (and NOT before), whip ganache until it's stiff enough to hold a nice shape and seems spreadable (Don't overwhip; overwhipped ganache looks granular, so watch carefully).
• Spread whipped ganache immediately, as it will firm as it sits.
• NOTE: if using 50-60% bittersweet chocolate, use 8 oz of chocolate and omit the sugar; if using 60-64% chocolate, use 7 oz of chocolate and omit sugar; if using 66-72% chocolate, use 6 oz and add the optional sugar to give the ganache a bit of'lift'.
• If you're just using this as a filling, halve the recipe.
• If you're glazing the cake with a chocolate glaze, chill the filled cake for at least 1 hour (up to 2 days) before glazing.