Friday, February 25, 2011

Chocolate Cupcakes w/ Nutella Buttercream Frosting


TGIF!  I've got the weekend off of work and I'm ready for it!  I'm not so ready to wake up super early tomorrow morning and fun 3.1 miles at 8am.  In the cold.  But, it's my own doing.  I freely signed up for the race knowing what I was getting myself into.  And so if I'm to be punished, so be it.


Bold statements are usually made in our house.  Usually those involving death threats (in a loving manner, of course.  like I tell everyone who looks seemingly shocked after I threaten to kill Andy - this is how we talk, hehe) or, heaven forbid, threats to take away chocolate cupcakes to one's co-workers instead of leaving them at home.  Yes.  Andy looked at me with disgust as I loaded these up last week to take to work.  Hey.  I left him 3.  And he had already eaten 3 the night before too.  So seriously.  He had his fill, it was time to give them to a more deserving crowd. 


I know it took me a while to post these, but hey, I wanted to save the best for the end of the week.  And there's a new poll at the end of this post, so don't forget to vote for my next little treat (I promise it won't take me as long to post this time!).

Obviously, they were still a tad warm when I frosted them - but it's hard to resist =)

Ingredients:



Cupcakes:


1 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons espresso powder
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon white/clear vanilla extract
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
chopped hazelnuts (optional)


Nutella Buttercream:
Adapted from My Baking Addiction's recipe


1 & 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 13-ounce jar of Nutella
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon white/clear vanilla extract
2-3 cups powdered sugar (original recipe called for a full lb., and by all means, go ahead with that if you'd like, but I just couldn't see using that much sugar)
6-8 tablespoons heavy cream

For the cupcakes:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Line muffin pans with paper liners.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Mix well and set aside.
In a separate, medium-sized bowl, combine the milk, vegetable oil, vanilla, and apple cider vinegar, and mix well.

Slowly add wet mixture to dry ingredients and stir until just incorporated.

Fill muffin liners about halfway to 3/4 full.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Remove cupcakes from oven and let cool in tin for about 10 minutes.  Remove cupcakes from tin and transfer to a wire rack to let cool to room temperature before frosting.

For the frosting:

This makes a TON of frosting, so you could definitely save some for later or half the recipe if you're not doing too many cupcakes. (I made about 18 cupcakes, and still had a bunch leftover)
In a large bowl, beat butter and Nutella until well combined. 
Slowly add in powdered sugar and continue beating until incorporated.

Add salt, vanilla, and 3 tablespoons of heavy cream. Beat on low speed until moistened.  Add heavy cream, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your preferred consistency. 
Beat frosting on high until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.

Fill a piping bag with a little bit of frosting and pierce the cooled cupcakes in the center to fill and then decoratively frost the tops.  Sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts, if desired.

Remember those bold statements I was talking about earlier?  Well, Andy mocked me when I told him I was buying Nutella.  He's somewhat sheltered in the Nutella area, and jokingly made faces at me as I put it in our cart at the grocery.  

So to his surprise, he actually loved these cupcakes.  So much so, that he made the boldest statement ever, saying that these were the best cupcakes I'd ever made.  Ever.  So seriously, if Andy can make such a statement, I think these are definitely worth a go.  And as for my coworkers, they loved them too.  So they're definitely a crowd pleaser. =)

And to the poll!  I'm in a vague and random sort of mood, so I'll leave it somewhat open.  I'll definitely need something to replenish me after I'm done with my race tomorrow morning!  Enjoy your weekend guys!






51 comments:

  1. Sono stupendi, ciao e un buon fine settimana

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  2. I've never seen clear vanilla extract. Where do you get that? These cupcakes look wonderful, and obviously if Nutella is in there, they must be!! Have a great weekend, enjoy your free time :)

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  3. I still haven't tried nutella! DOH!

    I did buy dark chocolate peanut butter this week though! I didn't like it =/ I'm hopelessly a dessert snob!

    I totally want one of these cupcakes though! I have a feeling they rooock! <3

    xoXOxo
    Jenn @ Peas & Crayons

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  4. if you pierced my heart, nutella would flow out! lol. gorgeous, can i have one?

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  5. I haven't tried yet nutella. This one looks awesome. you done nice frosting too.

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  6. These look delicious! I too have not tried Nutella. I'm going to have to break down and get some - it seems to be amazing for baking. :)

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  7. Those cupcakes look so pretty! Bet they taste great with nutella.

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  8. Good luck with your race tomorrow! I vote that you make Girl Scout cookies :)

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  9. Very cute little cakes! I think we all should go ahead and sue Nutella for making such a delicious spread! :)
    Good luck with the race..

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  10. You guys keep it alive! Great for your weekend off (and you're running???). Have a wonderful time - and these are definitely a great treat to come back to!

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  11. Love your way of thinking: TGIF indeed! I think I had the longest and the busiest week ever!!!! Nice loaded treat and above all, it's chocolate!!!!!! Than you for sharing and have a great weekend :)

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  12. I never tried this wth nutella, new to me n this looks great!

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  13. Irresistible and beautiful! Love the frosting too...

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  14. Oh peggy these cupcakes are gorgeous... they have got delicious written all over them...moreover eggless too..what more can I ask..I am bookmarking this...my daughter will love this a lot.

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  15. This is my type of sweet! Mmm, delicious!

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  16. WOW, they look amazing!!!!
    Back in 1990 when I came i the US as an au pair, I tought my family to eat Nutella and they have eaten it ever since on toasted bread with butter :-)

    My best,
    Birthe

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  17. How cute and Yummy they are !! wow...and nice picture peggy. thx for sharing

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  18. I have to keep this recipe for my grand daughter; she will go nuts because Nutella is her favourite food.
    Rita

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  19. wow, these are absolutely beautiful. nom

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  20. OMG!!!Peggy.....I am going weak seeing ur gorgeous babes.

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  21. I love nutella, your cupcakes must taste wonderful...!

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  22. Thats looks so yummy and perfectly baked:)

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  23. Yummy! Anything with nutella is always delicious!

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  24. These look awesome!!! I love that you used espresso powder n the cupcakes. It always makes chocolate cake taste even better! I've never used apple cider vinegar in chocolate cake. It works well in my red velvet cake so I'm going to have to try this! The frosting looks fabulous too! I love Nutella!
    Meghan

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  25. beautifully done Peggy this looks delicious

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  26. Nutella buttercream?!?!?! YUM!

    I want this now. I am a huge cupcake fan, and I am a big believer that the frosting makes the cake :)

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  27. oh this brought tears to my eyes. seriously. My love for Nutella runs deep! i have to make this!! Lord help me to not eat them all...

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  28. I never try nutella but i try this next time ur recipe is just mouthwatering:) thanks for sharing this.

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  29. thats like a dream cup cake peggy! gorgeous and yum!

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  30. How delicious and rich they look :), Nutella is a big weakness of mine - that pic just before the ingredients made me want a cupcake so bad!

    p.s. I also ice my cakes when they're still warm, I swear by it!

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  31. These cupcakes are really speaking to my soul. That nutella buttercream is just mindblowing. Good luck on your race!

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  32. omg.. love this! nutella buttercream! ive always just used nutella alone as a frosting - but this is way better! - and also congrats on boyfriend --> fiance!!

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  33. It seems so......... chocolat! I love it!

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  34. That cakes are fantastics. Look like very tasty.

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  35. oh. my. gosh. those look incredible and way to dangerous to ever leave me in a room with them! :)

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  36. Hola desde ESPAÑA ..unos cupcakes deliciosos ..saludos MARIMI

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  37. they look amazing ! why clear vanilla extract given the fact the cupcakes are dark in color anyway? thanks in advance!
    Linda @ Lemon Drop

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  38. I LOVE Nutella! Your cupcakes look so good!

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  39. I hope you had a fabulous race and a wonderful weekend. These cupcakes are too tempting. I want one right now! Thanks for sharing, my dear! May your week burst forth with love, good food and peace!

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  40. Nutella ANYTHING. Inspired - love it!
    Robyn

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  41. @everyone - Thanks for the Nutella love guys!

    @Linda - the clear vanilla really isn't necessary, I received a large bottle of it not too long ago and have been testing it out here and there, so feel free to use the regular ol' stuff! =)

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  42. I like, I like. I am always frosting cupcakes when they're still too warm, I can't bear the waiting game.

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  43. I'm crazy about nutella. Always try my hand in experimenting things when i handle nutella. This is looking awesome
    thanks for your wonderful words in my blog.

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  44. Ces cupcakes au Nutella semblent délicieux.
    Je note ta recette.
    Bonne semaine et see soon.

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  45. ooo saving this for my son's birthday!!!

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  46. Will this buttercream be enough to frost 2 8 inch cakes?

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  47. It should (I made 36 cupcakes and still had PLENTY of leftover frosting)!

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  48. This nutella frosting looks delicious! Thanks!

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  49. How sweet and beautiful these look!

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