divine devil's food cupcakes

By miss5elements

Active: 20 min; Total: 1.5hrs

Planning tip: Can be refrigerated airtight up to 2 days, or frozen up to one month.

Per cupcake: 236 cal, 3g protein, 30g carbs, 1g fiber, 13g fat (8g sat fat), 44mg cholesterol, 104mg sodium

Ingredients

• Batter:
• 2 c cake flour (not self-rising)
• 2/3 c unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1.25 t baking soda
• 1/4 t salt
• 1/2 c buttermilk (or stir 2T water into 6T plain yogurt)
• 1/3 c water
• 1.5 sticks (3/4c) unsalted butter, softened
• 1.75 c sugar
• 2 lg eggs
• 1.5 t vanilla extract
• Frosting:
• 7.5 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 c heavy (whipping) cream
• 3 T unsalted butter, softened
• Garnish: chocolate sprinkles

Details

Servings 24

Preparation

Step 1

1. Position rack in middle of oven. Heat to 350F. Line 12 (or 24, if you have) muffin cups w/ paper liners.

2. Batter: Whisk flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a lg bowl. Combine buttermilk (or yogurt mixture) and water in a small bowl, beat butter w/ mixer on med-high speed until fluffy. Add sugar and beat 3 min or until light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each. Beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add cocoa mixture alternatively with buttermilk mixture in 3 batches, beating just until well blended. Spoon into lined cups, filling each 2/3 full.

3. Bake 20 to 22 minutes until a wooden pick inserted in centers of cupcakes comes out clean. Cool in pan(s) on a wire rack 5 minutes before removing from pan(s) to rack to cool completely. If baking only 12 at a time, repeat with remaining batter.

4. Frosting: Heat chocolate and cream in a medium saucepan over low heat, stirring until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Add butter, whisk until melted and blended. Transfer to a bowl, cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate 15 minutes.

5. Beat w/ mixer on med-high speed about 3 minutes, until thick enough to spread.

6. To assemble: Swirl a heaping Tbsp frosting on each cupcake; dip in or scatter on sprinkles. Refrigerate 30 minutes, or until frosting sets.