Chocolate Chiffon Cupcake Recipes

CHOCOLATE CHIFFON CAKE

Steps:

• Let eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. In a bowl, combine cocoa and water until smooth; cool for 20 minutes. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks, oil and vanilla; add to dry ingredients along with the cocoa mixture. Beat until well blended. In another large bowl and with clean beaters, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on high speed until stiff peaks form. Gradually fold into egg yolk mixture. , Gently spoon batter into an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Cut through the batter with a knife to remove air pockets. Bake on lowest rack at 325° for 60-65 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched. Immediately invert pan; cool completely. Run a knife around sides and center tube of pan. Invert cake onto a serving plate., For icing, melt butter in a saucepan. Remove from the heat; stir in the confectioners' sugar, chocolate, vanilla and water. Drizzle over cake. Sprinkle with nuts if desired.

CHOCOLATE CHIFFON CUPCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Place paper liners into 2 (12-cup) muffin tins and set aside. If you prefer, set 12 ovenproof coffee mugs on a half sheet pan and set aside.
• In a medium mixing bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• Place the hot water and the cocoa powder into a small bowl and whisk to thoroughly combine. Set aside. Place the egg yolks and 5 ounces of the sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk on high for 2 minutes or until the mixture becomes pale yellow and 'ribbons' when lifted. Add the cocoa mixture, vegetable oil and vanilla and whisk to combine. Add the dry ingredients and whisk just to combine. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl while you whisk the egg whites.
• Place the egg whites and cream of tartar into a clean bowl and whisk on high using the whisk attachment, until it becomes foamy. Decrease the speed to low and gradually add the remaining ounce of sugar. Once the sugar has all been added, increase the speed back to high and continue to beat until stiff peaks form, approximately 2 minutes.
• Transfer 1/3 of the egg whites to the batter and whisk until well combined. Add the remaining egg whites and fold in gently. Transfer batter into prepared muffin tins or coffee mugs, evenly dividing the batter between the cups. Place both muffin tins on the middle rack of the oven or, if using mugs, place all of them on a half sheet pan and set on the bottom rack of the oven. Bake for 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean or the cupcakes reach an internal temperature of 205 to 210 degrees F. Remove from the oven to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely before frosting.

CHOCOLATE CHIFFON CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Sift cake flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl.
• In another bowl, whisk egg yolks, oil, and 1/3 cup water until blended. Whisk in 3/4 cup sugar. Add egg-yolk mixture to flour mixture and stir until well blended.
• In another bowl, with a mixer on high speed, beat egg whites until frothy. Gradually add remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, beating just until soft peaks form. Add egg-white mixture to batter and fold in with a rubber spatula until evenly blended.
• Fill paper-lined or buttered muffin cups (1/3-cup capacity) about three-fourths full with batter (about 1/4 cup in each).
• Bake in a 325° oven until tops spring back when lightly touched in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool on racks 5 minutes; remove from pans. Cool completely.
• Decorating tips:
• Patric Gabre-Kidan, pastry chef for Tom Douglas Restaurants in Seattle, shares some insider information. (We've added our favorite strategies.)
• Make sure your frosting is soft and creamy. This is especially important if you're piping it. Cold, stiff frosting will look dull and clumpy, not silky and smooth.
• Use a lot of colors. It will make each cake unique and turn the lot into instant decorations for a party.
• Don't think that sprinkles are cheesy. They can actually elevate the look.
• Mix simple decorations with more elegant ones. Colorful sprinkles aren't lowbrow beside sifted cocoa.
• Have fun with lighthearted toppings. Some of our favorites are chocolate jimmies, jelly beans, miniature M&Ms, miniature chocolate chips, peanuts, and chopped toffee, malted milk balls, or dark chocolate.
• Try artistic touches. Thin shreds of lemon or orange peel, candied lemon or orange peel, toasted coconut, candied ginger, and sugared rose petals are pretty flourishes. If using rose petals, lightly coat fresh, unsprayed ones with pasteurized egg whites, then sugar; let them dry before using.
• Use peanut butter as frosting. Stir it until creamy, then dollop on cakes; or swirl with chocolate frosting.
• Add "architectural" elements. Little meringues, miniature Oreos, or chunks of chocolate wafer cookies.
• Note: Nutritional analysis is per unfrosted cupcake.

CHIFFON CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Place paper liners into 2 (12-cup) muffin tins and set aside. If you prefer, set 12 ovenproof coffee mugs on a half sheet pan and set aside.
• In a medium mixing bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• Place the egg yolks and 5 ounces of the sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk on high for 2 minutes or until the mixture becomes pale yellow and 'ribbons' when lifted. Add the water, vegetable oil and vanilla and whisk to combine. Add the dry ingredients and whisk just to combine. Transfer the batter to a mixing bowl while you whisk the egg whites.
• Place the egg whites and cream of tartar into a clean bowl and whisk on high using the whisk attachment, until it becomes foamy. Decrease the speed to low and gradually add the remaining ounce of sugar. Increase speed to high and continue whisking until stiff peaks form, approximately 2 minutes.
• Transfer 1/3 of the egg whites to the batter and whisk until well combined. Add the remaining egg whites and fold in gently. Transfer batter into prepared muffin tins or coffee mugs, evenly dividing the batter between the cups. Place both muffin tins on the middle rack of the oven or, if using mugs, place all of them on a half sheet pan and set on the bottom rack of the oven. Bake for 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean or the cupcakes reach an internal temperature of 205 to 210 degrees F. Remove from the oven to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely before frosting.

CHOCOLATE CHIFFON CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Sift cake flour, 3/4 cup sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together in a large bowl.
• Whisk together egg yolks, water, oil, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the egg mixture. Whisk until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl if necessary.
• Combine egg whites and cream of tartar together in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer with a whisk attachment until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 3/4 cup sugar and beat until well combined. Gently fold egg white mixture into the batter in 3 portions, until just combined.
• Pour batter into an ungreased 10-inch, 2-part tube pan and smooth the top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a metal bowl and wire whisk in the freezer for at least 15 minutes.
• Remove cake from the oven. Invert pan onto an upside-down mug to cool completely, about 1 hour. Run a knife around the edges of the cooled cake to loosen it from the pan and carefully transfer it to a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut the cake in half horizontally.
• Combine sugar, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract in the chilled metal bowl and whisk to combine. Add 2 tablespoons cream and stir. Add remaining cream and beat using the chilled whisk until peaks form.
• Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Combine chocolate, butter, and corn syrup in a metal bowl and place over the saucepan of simmering water. Stir until chocolate is melted, about 3 minutes. Remove glaze from heat and let cool slightly.
• Place the bottom half of the cake on a cake plate and top evenly with about 1 cup of frosting reserving the rest for decorating. Carefully place top layer over filling. Pour glaze over the cake and use a spatula to coat the sides of the cake with glaze. Fill remaining frosting into a piping bag and decorate cake to your liking.