Chocolate Cupcakes With A Chocolate Orange And Clove Infused Ganache Filling And A Chinese Spiced Tea Buttercream Recipes

MOIST CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH GANACHE FILLING

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C) and line cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
• p id="instruction-step-2″ class="p2″>2. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.
• p id="instruction-step-3″ class="p2″>3. Add butter and sugar to a large mixing bowl and cream together on medium speed until light in color and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. You should be able to see a noticeable change in color and texture.
• p id="instruction-step-4″ class="p2″>4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until combined.
• p id="instruction-step-5″ class="p2″>5. Combine the cocoa powder, vanilla and water and stir until combined. Add the mixture to the cake batter and mix until well combined.
• p id="instruction-step-6″ class="p2″>6. Alternate adding the flour mixture and milk to the batter. Begin by adding half of the dry mix, then mix until combined. Add the milk and mix until combined, scraping down the sides as needed. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix until well combined. 7. Fill cupcake liners about 3/4 full and bake for 15-17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out with a few crumbs. 8. Remove cupcakes from the oven and allow to cool. 9. To make the ganache filling, add the chocolate chips and vanilla extract to a medium sized bowl. 10. Heat the heavy whipping cream until it just begins to boil, then pour it over the chocolate chips. 11. Allow the chocolate and cream and to sit for 3-5 minutes, then whisk together until smooth. Set aside to cool until at least room temperature. You could also refrigerate it until cold. 12. When you're ready to build the cupcakes, make the frosting. Add the butter to a large mixer bowl and beat until smooth and creamy. 13. Add about half of the powdered sugar and mix until smooth and well combined. 14. Add the cocoa powder and mix until well combined and smooth. 15. Add the vanilla extract and 2-3 tablespoons of water or cream and mix until smooth and well combined. 16. Add the remaining powdered sugar and mix until smooth and well combined. 17. Add more water or cream until desired consistency is reached, then add salt. 18. To put the cupcakes together, use a cupcake corer or knife to remove the centers of the cupcakes. 19. Fill the centers of the cupcakes with the ganache filling (about a 1/2 tablespoon of ganache per cupcake), then pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes with the chocolate buttercream. I used Ateco tip 844. I also dusted the tops of the cupcakes with a little cocoa powder, if you'd like to do that. 20. Serve cupcakes at room temperature, but store in the fridge. Cupcakes are best eaten within 2-3 days.

ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH GANACHE FILLING(ATK)

Steps:

• FOR GANACHE FILLING: Place chocolate, cream, and confectioners' sugar in medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat in microwave on high power until mixture is warm to touch, 20 to 30 seconds. Whisk until smooth; transfer bowl to refrigerator and let stand until just chilled, no longer than 30 minutes.
• FOR CUPCAKES: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard-size muffin pan (cups have ½-cup capacity) with baking-cup liners. Place chocolate and cocoa in medium bowl. Pour hot coffee over mixture and whisk until smooth. Set in refrigerator to cool completely, about 20 minutes. Whisk flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.
• Whisk oil, eggs, vinegar, and vanilla into cooled chocolate-cocoa mixture until smooth. Add flour mixture and whisk until smooth.
• Divide batter evenly among muffin pan cups. Place one slightly rounded teaspoon ganache filling on top of each cupcake. Bake until cupcakes are set and just firm to touch, 17 to 19 minutes. Cool cupcakes in muffin pan on wire rack until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Carefully lift each cupcake from muffin pan and set on wire rack. Cool to room temperature before frosting, about 1 hour.
• TO FROST: Mound 2 to 3 tablespoons frosting on center of each cupcake. Using small icing spatula or butter knife, spread frosting to edge of cupcake, leaving slight mound in center.

ESPRESSO-INFUSED POURED CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Place your chopped chocolate in the bowl of your stand mixer.
• Place the espresso beans in a sealable gallon-size bag (or between two pieces of parchment) and crush them with a rolling pin. Combine the heavy cream and espresso beans in a small pot and heat over medium-low heat until simmering. Remove from the heat, cover the pot and allow the cream to infuse for 10 minutes. Strain the cream through a cheesecloth-lined sieve into a clean pot. Return the cream to medium-low heat and bring back to a simmer.
• Pour the warm cream into the bowl of chocolate. Add the coffee liqueur if using and the salt. Gently stir the mixture with a spatula until smooth. At this point you can pour your ganache or you can cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. To reheat, gently heat in the microwave in 20 second bursts, stirring frequently, until fluid again.