Chocolate Cupcakes with Dark Chocolate Ganache!

After craving chocolate cupcakes for the past few weeks, I finally decided it was time to satisfy my desire for this delicious creation :-)

Let's get right to the good stuff...

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Chocolate Cupcakes with Dark Chocolate Ganache
Makes 12 Cupcakes


Ingredients:

1/2 cup all-purpose white flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon instant coffee
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup milk
Dark chocolate candies (I used Dove Dark Chocolate, Godiva Dark Chocolate Caramel Gems, and Baci Dark Chocolates with Hazelnuts)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper or foil liners. In a medium size bowl, sift together the flours, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cocoa, and instant coffee. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg, beating well, then stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk; beat well. Fill the muffin cups 3/4 full.

Dust the candies with flour and insert them into the center of each cupcake, pushing down just slightly so they are halfway covered by the batter.

Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. 

Let cool before glazing with the ganache (see recipe below)...

Dark Chocolate Ganache Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

Combine the milk and chocolate chips in a microwave safe glass bowl.  Microwave on a low setting for about 1 minute.  Stir the mixture until the chocolate has completely melted into the milk, then slowly stir in the  powdered sugar until smooth.  Refrigerate the ganache for about 5 minutes to let it firm up enough so that it won't drip off the cupcakes.  When the cupcakes have cooled, gently smooth the ganache over the top and refrigerate until ready to enjoy :-)

Note:  You can also warm the milk/chocolate mixture in a saucepan on the stove or in a double-boiler.

Here is the beautiful finished product:

Pure chocolatey deliciousness :-)

Cheers to Chocolate!

Librarian turned Foodie