Spicy Double Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

By cw_2009

Got a sweet tooth craving that needs to be satisfied? These decadent Spicy Double Dark Chocolate Cupcakes are a sure cure! Spicy chocolate cupcakes are filled with a cognac cherry filling and covered in a pistachio mascarpone frosting. Can you say DELICIOUS!?

Ingredients

• CUPCAKES:
• 1 pound 6 ounces all-purpose flour
• 2 2/3 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 2/3 teaspoons baking soda
• 4 ounces dry chocolate pudding mix
• 1/8 cup wheat germ
• 1 tablespoon ground white pepper
• 1 1/3 teaspoons salt
• 1 pound 12 ounces granulated sugar
• 9 ounces vegetable shortening
• 6 whole eggs
• 1 ounce plus 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 6 ounces unsweetened cocoa powder
• 8 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
• Cognac Cherries Filling, recipe follows
• Pistachio Mascarpone Frosting, recipe follows
• CHERRY FILLING:
• 8 ounces cherries, chopped
• 2 ounces cognac
• PISTACHIO MASCARPONE FROSTING:
• 10 ounces mascarpone cheese
• 1 tablespoon pistachio compound
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 7 ounces powdered sugar

Details

Servings 36
Preparation time 15mins
Cooking time 70mins

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Line 3 regular 12 cupcake pans with 36 cupcake liners.

Sift the flour, baking powder and baking soda into a small bowl. Add the pudding mix, wheat germ, pepper and salt to the flour mixture and set the bowl aside.

In a bowl of an electric stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the sugar and shortening together, until the mixture is fluffy, about 5 minutes. Scrape down the bowl and then slowly add the eggs, one egg at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl after each addition. Add the vanilla extract.

While adding the eggs, put 2 3/4 cups water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat once the water boils. Put the cocoa powder in a medium bowl and pour the boiling water over, whisking until smooth.

Turn off the mixer and add the liquid cocoa to the batter. Let the mixture come together then add the dry ingredients to the batter. Remove the bowl from the electric mixer and scrape the bowl to incorporate all the ingredients. Fold in the chopped dark chocolate.
Fill the prepared liners three-quarters full with batter and bake until a toothpick comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Let the cupcakes cool completely.

Assembly:

Fill the center of the cupcakes with the Cherry Filling and top with the Pistachio Mascarpone Frosting.

CHERRY FILLING:

Mix the cherries and cognac together in a bowl and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes.

PISTACHIO MASCARPONE FROSTING:

Cream the cheese with the compound and extract (don't over mix). Add the powdered sugar to taste.