When in Poland, last week, I had my niece’s second birthday party to organise. I wasn’t quite sure of what to bake, I wanted the kids to like the food. It was obvious that it’s pointless making fancy cakes, which child would enjoy and appreciate a multilayered cake? I’ve decided to make cupcakes instead. They’re small, chocolatey and pretty looking, I hoped that it’ll be enough to catch children’s attention.
I might have succeeded, the cupcakes disappeared quite quickly!
Another advantage is – they’re fairly easy to make, only decorating requires some extra effort and time. Oh well, things we do for kids ^^
Once again, Happy Birthday Kola!
BRILLIANT CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
INGREDIENTS
for the dough
50g good quality cocoa powder
240ml boiling water
180g flour
2tsp baking powder
1/4tsp salt
120g butter, room temperature
200g white sugar
2 large eggs
2tsp vanilla extract
for the frosting
200g cream cheese (or mascarpone)
100g butter
250g icing sugar
1tsp vanilla extract
lime juice (squeezed of 2 limes)
lime zest (peeled of 2 limes)
HOW TO MAKE?
1. Preheat the oven to about 190 degrees Celsius. Lightly grease your muffin tins or simply use paper muffin shells.
2. In a bowl, mix together cocoa powder and hot water, until you get rid of all the lumps. Set aside to cool down.
3. In another bowl, mix together the flour, salt and baking powder.
4. With your electric mixer, beat the butter until light and fluffy. Add sugar and beat until incorporated. Add the eggs, one at the time, and keep beating until smooth. Add vanilla extract and flour mixture and beat quickly, until mixed well. Lastly, add chilled cocoa mixture and beat until smooth.
5. It will seem to you that the batter is too watery but don’t add more flour. It’ll turn out just fine after baking, believe me. If you make your batter thicker, your cupcakes won’t be as light and soft.
6. Fill each muffin cup, about 2/3 full. Bake for 16-20 minutes, or until the skewer comes out clean. Take out from the oven and place on the wire rack to cool down completely.
7. When your cupcakes are resting and chilling, make the frosting. In a medium bowl, beat the butter with your electric mixer until nice and fluffy. Beat in the sugar first and, when well combined, start adding soft cheese, spoon by spoon. Stir in the vanilla extract.
8. Slowly and delicately, stir in the lime juice. Don’t add everything at once, the frosting might curdle! Be careful so your limes are not cold, they should be room temperature, so the temperature of the frosting is similar to that of lime juice. Stir in the lime zest. Done! Place the frosting in the fridge for at least 30min, so it settles nicely before you start decorating your cupcakes.
9. Now, let your imagination do the job. I chose pink sprinkles and pink flowers to decorate the cupcakes since I baked them for a little girl’s birthday. But be creative! Decorating is fun, you can always ask your family to help you. Enjoy!
Smacznego,
aho
aho's homemade food 