My friend Lorraine is quite appalled whenever I say this, but we’ve never really been into cupcakes.
Despite that, the boys needed chocolate, the neighbours needed chocolate (it’s been that kind of week) and Nick Malgieri’s recipe from Modern Baker promised me eighteen moist, tender, and easily distributable portions. I substituted Pete’s Greek yoghurt for the sour cream in the recipe, topped them with my own chocolate frosting and ended up with the first ever cupcake to blow us all away.
Modern Baker has just been reprinted, and is definitely worth a look – of the three Malgieri books I’ve bought to date, it’s now my favourite. And I think our frosting makes these cupcakes extra special…
Frosting
- 150g unsalted butter, softened
- 250g icing sugar mixture (powdered sugar)
- 55g unsweetened Dutch processed cocoa powder
- 5ml (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
- 30 – 35ml milk (or as required)
1. Sift the icing sugar mixture and cocoa together into a medium bowl (if you skip this step, you’ll end up with lumpy icing).
2. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter in a large bowl, then gradually beat in the icing sugar/cocoa mixture alternately with as much milk as is required to create a spreadable frosting.
3. Scrape the frosting into a large piping bag fitted with a star nozzle, then decoratively and generously pipe the frosting over the cooled cupcakes. Pause briefly to admire your workmanship before sharing and scoffing!
PS. Mel at Golden Tweety made these cupcakes as well!
I’m so glad you tried these and liked them. However, now your friends and family might start asking for cupcakes:) I was really impressed with the moistness/lightness of these cupcakes. Good to know that yogurt works as well. I’ll have to make that substitution next time. I think I’ll try the white cupcakes here soon and use your frosting recipe. We’re due for some cupcakes here. Thank you for the mention in your post!
Mel, they were truly lovely, thanks for the headsup! :)
Morning darling, these look absolutely divine, they would be lining up for these around here as i never make cupcakes, in fact i seldom make cakes at all as we know! But these are just perfect! c
Thanks Celi! They were popular – even with Small Man who is a chocolate cake pedant.. :)
Celia, these look magnificent and it is very difficult to beat a butter icing!
:-) Mandy
Mandy, thanks! I reckon I only need a few tried and tested frosting recipes, and I’m good for almost all occasions.. :)
Celia, what IS the secret to taking gorgeous photos of brown food? I cannot do it. I am pretty much giving up on all things chocolate, or stews, or stuff like that
your cupcakes are a masterpiece, and I would devour one right now…
Sally, that’s a very nice thing to say, thank you! Brown is hard to photograph, but I have good natural light in the kitchen. And I never ever use a flash!
Oh, Celia. They look spectacular. You ice so well – far, FAR better than I. So pretty – I love that they aren’t all the same too :)
Nick, you have no idea, it’s taken years to get my chocolate piping not to look like dog poo.. :D
Those do look splendid!
Many thanks Sue! :)
One of these days I’m going to learn how to do piping. It’s such an impressive way to finish food. Really lovely! :D
Misk, thank you, I bought large disposable piping bags and a couple of nozzles. I find I use them all the time now, from piping meringues to topping cakes!
Poor Queenie!! She had a great life with you. Lucky chook. Who will take over as head chook?
Deb, thanks for saying that, I hope she had a good time with us. There’s been no fighting in the ranks, so I think Bertie just slips into the role (she was second chook when Queenie was alive).
I really need some chocolate cupcakes after seeing these!! The frosting on these looks good enough to slurp, and the yogurt must make to so very moist ..I am almost dreaming:)
Malli, thanks! I was really chuffed with how well they turned out, and my husband Pete keeps asking me when we’re making them again!
They were called fairy cakes in my day and didn’t have the huge layers of ‘frosting’! LIke you, I’m usually underwhelmed by cupcakes – but you’ve tempted me with this recipe.
I just made the chocolate custard muffins from Short an Sweet – they are really chocolatey and a lovely texture.
Sally, I tend to find commercial cupcakes boring, especially the ones with hard fondant icing that seems all the rage these days. I haven’t tried the muffins in S&S, thanks for the recommendation!
What about yoiur friend in New York City…she needs chocolate too! Incredibly gorgeous and that frosting….
Norma, if I could, you know I’d deliver to you.. :)
Celia, funnily enough you are not alone… I am not fussed with cupcakes either, especially with this ‘new wave’ of heavily iced cupcakes from specialist cupcake stores. Your chocolate cupcakes might tempt me, though, they look very delicious! Give me a fairy cake any day… in fact I can see the title of my next blog already!
Lizzy, it’s funny how the trends change isn’t it? I never would have believed there could be whole shops, let alone whole chains, just selling cupcakes!
This look very chocolate-y – much richer than the average cupcake! They might convert me to cupcakes, too!
Suelle, you and I both share an antipathy for cupcakes and muffins, so if we like this one, I think you might too! :)
They look perfect…. I love a cup cake myself. Just the right size .
Thanks Tania! They were a good size for snacking!
I generally leave the cup-cake making in this house to my eldest who finds baking them therapeutic – I’m too lazy to be fussing around with fiddly cakes when I can make a whole one instead. However, I am very fond of eating them – starting with the frosting which I pay extra attention to.
The daughter has just moved out of home, so I’ll have to pass this on to her with hints that she can bring gifts next time she drops in for free meals or washing!
Hahaha…Amanda, that’s cool that your daughter can bake YOU treats. Nice payback, I reckon, for all your years of feeding! :)
They do look very fine!
I made brownie bites in my new gadget today and totally forgot to take a picture!
Although I also made a tray of regular brownies that are still in the kitchen.
The bites were stuffed with peanut butter bars and were for my sister’s birthday- they are so totally gone!
Heidi, you’re certainly having a wonderful time with that new toy of yours! I have to make some brownies too, I think…
Awesome looking frosting indeed, the frosting on cupcakes is usually the best bit! Cupcakes are all very well and good, but I usually like my cakes to havea bit more substance to them.
Great job with the brown photo too, always so tricky!
Thanks Becca! These were really very good, not sure how they’d convert to gf or lactose-free though…
Celia I think you should keep up the cupcake creating. These look fantastic! I love how glossy the icing is. It would go perfectly with my cup of tea.
Claire, thank you, but I doubt it will be something I’ll bake often. Just can’t find many cupcake recipes that grab me!
I may have to give these a try! I’ve never been blown away by a chocolate cupcake but I have half a batch of natural yoghurt in the fridge looking for a home. :)
Pam, these were a surprise! I know what you mean though, until now, I hadn’t really had a chocolate cupcake, or worse still, a chocolate muffin, that really rocked my boat either…
Wow they look spectacular! You take such gorgeous photos, it always cheers me up to look at your cakes and goodies :)
Thank you, darling. I’m glad you liked them.. :)
We’re not much into cupcakes either, but we’d take these off your hands!
Greg, if you weren’t half a world away, I’d invite you over to share. You could bring the smoked brisket.. :D
I should keep it a secret but I’m not exactly into cupcakes either. Where did that craze come from? But, I’ll happily eat a few of your chocolate cupcakes. I love the look of your frosting and love how you piped it on top of the little cakes. I bet the boys and the neighbours faces lit up when they saw them – and I’m sure there’s none left now!
Charlie, I’m waiting for the fad to pass, I think it’s nearly gone. As are the cupcakes.. :)
I wish I could make such an amazing frosting with fructose! have a super day :)
Thanks Tandy! I’ve never cooked with fructose, I have no idea how it would work. It must be an interesting challenge for you! :)
Okay so I can absolutely vouch for the sheer awesomeness of these cupcakes. So wonderful that I had to demand quiet in the room to allow me to fully be present with the cupcake.
And… And my husband’s verdict after a couple of bites: “I don’t like cupcakes but this is incredible!”
You guys are such a treasure to feed. I have brownies coming tomorrow! :)
Yeah Celia, a cupcake convert. You’ve iced them most beautifully.
A convert, Choc? I’m not sure about that. But I DO like these ones…very much.. :)
Celia my first thought when I saw your heading was… hang on she doesn’t like cupcakes! :-)
They do look rather fantastic though and going on Michelle’s comment it seems they were a big hit!
Now if only I had one within arms reach right now…
Hey Mummy Brydie, how’s it going? I’ve been thinking about you, and hoping you’re getting some rest! :)
I’ve been baking so much lately… I was starting to think I’d had enough “sweets” until I saw these! Beautiful icing job on top, by the way!!
Thanks Smidge, I had fun playing with the icing.. :)
These look so decadent & especially dangerous to read about just before lunch! Bizzy Lizzy sent me your way :).
Thanks for stopping by, Laura! Isn’t Lizzy’s blog wonderful? :)
Waw!! Your frosting looks so lovely, awesome & alternative! So tasty too!
Yummy also! :)
Thanks Sophie! Wish I could share with you! :)
hi Celia. I’m loving and appreciating the delicous frosting, but how do I find the recipe for your moist, tender cupcakes lovely lady???
Hi there Lina.. :)
My friend Mel has the recipe on her blog:
http://goldentweety.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/incredibly-moist-chocolate-cupcakes.html
I did a google search and also found them here:
http://thecookiescoop.blogspot.com.au/2010/08/incredibly-moist-chocolate-cupcakes.html
I sub’d Greek yoghurt for the sour cream!
My son loves cupcakes,I bookmarked the recipe,I will try them soon. Nice post as always
Thank you! :)