IMBB? - Triple Chocolate Cupcakes

It's no secret that I like chocolate, and it's no secret that I like chocolate cake.  When this month's IMBB theme, My Little Cupcake (or muffin), was announced by Maki at I was just really very hungry, I knew I had to participate.

Here is one of my favorite recipes for a wonderfully rich, triple chocolate -- chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate -- cupcake, that I hope you'll all enjoy.

**NOTE**

Photo will not be posted until this weekend.  This posting was completed so that I could submit the entry to Maki who indicated that she wanted them no later than Thursday, March 23rd.  Baking to commence on Sunday.

Triple Chocolate Cupcakes makes 12

Cupcakes

6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 350º F and position rack in the lower third of the oven.

In the top of a double boiler, combine chocolate and butter.  Bring to a simmer, cooking until chocolate and butter are melted.  Whisk to incorporate.  Remove from heat and set aside.  Let cool to room temperature.

In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  Whisk together, then sift.  Set aside.

In another bowl beat eggs, then add sugar and vanilla.  Mix until well incorporated.  Add chocolate mixture a little at a time, and continue to mix.  Add in flour mixture in three batches, mixing well between additions.  Add sour cream and continue mixing until well incorporated.

Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full and bake for about 18 - 20 minutes.  When done, muffins should spring back when lightly depressed in the middle, and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.

Remove from oven and cool in muffin pan for about 10 minutes.  Transfer to wire rack to complete cooling.

Chocolate Filling

4 ounces dark chocolate
1/4 cup milk
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

In the top of a double boiler, combine dark chocolate and milk.  Bring to a simmer and cook until chocolate is melted.  Stir to combine.  Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.

In a bowl, combine cream cheese and chocolate and beat until smooth.  Refrigerate for two hours (minimum) before filling cupcakes.

To fill cupcakes:  Transfer chocolate filling to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4" star tip.  Insert the tip into the top of each cupcake (about 1" deep).  Gently squeeze the pastry bag and slowly fill the cupcake, withdrawing the tip while squeezing.  Do not overfill.  Repeat until all cupcakes have been filled.

Ganache

4 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream

In a saucepan on low heat, combine heavy cream and dark chocolate.  Stir until well combined.  Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.  The ganache should thicken slightly.

Taking a filled cupcake, dip the top into the ganache until evenly coated.  Repeat until all cupcakes have been "frosted".  Alternative method, frost each cupcake with ganache using a small spoon or knife.

Comments

[MrsT]

No pics Reid..??

[O.G.]

Oh my goodness, I am going to have to make these right now!

[AugustusGloop]

*waits patiently with anticipatory drool*

[A Touch of Style]

I went looking for recipes to use up all of these eggs I suddenly have and found this instead. Technorati must know me better than I thought. The eggs can wait.

[Reid]

Hi MrsT,

No pics because I really can't do any baking during the week. I get home too late from work. =(

Hi O.G.,

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

If you do make these, let me know how you like them...

Hi AG (and MrsT),

Pictures should be up shortly. I'm going out to have dim sum now... =)

Hi A Touch of Style,

Thank you for visiting.

You won't use up all your eggs, but you'll use a couple by making these cupcakes. If you do make them, I hope you like them.

[babe_kl]

*drumming fingers waiting*

can't wait for the pics, goshhh, faster reid!!! :p hahaha

actually i made some cupcakes on sat afternoon after my son went zzZzzZZ hehe it was impromtu thingy with watever ingredients i hv in my fridge.

[cyn]

Oooooh that looks great! Hi Reid, I found your site a little while ago and have been lurking and drooling ever since. I'm one of those people who likes icing/frosting better than the cake, so I tend to peel off the top, eat the rest of the cupcake, then very slowly savour eating the icing/frosting. Yum.

[AugustusGloop]

Yum scrum! Looks onolicious! And worth the wait! :-P

[Tea]

mmm...looks so yummy! Thanks for sharing the recipe and deliciously delicious photo! =) I have a question though...why do you have so many cameras? (The ones in your "photo courtesy of" section). Can't wait for more yummy posts! ^-^

[Cathy]

Oh my gosh that looks good Reid! I've never filled cupcakes before - it certainly sounds easy enough and I'll bet it makes them really yummy!

[Reid]

Hi babe_kl,

So how did your cupcakes turn out? These are quite light, and not as dense as I would normally like cupcakes to be. I've used this recipe a couple of times already and am slowly fine tuning it in the process. I do love it's rich chocolatey flavor though.

Hi AG,

Thank you! =) I'm glad you find the cupcake yummy looking!

Hi Tea,

Welcome to my blog!

I use a variety of different cameras to take photos. The T1 is especially good with close up shots, and the U50 is great because it's so portable. I get my best night/outdoor shots with the V1, so each has a different use.

I'm glad you're enjoying the site...and I'll try to post more deliciously, delicious photos! =P

Hi Cathy,

Thank you! Filled cupcakes aren't really hard to make, but finding a good filling recipe is. This is a standard one that I've used before with other desserts, but it's just OK here. I'll more than likely try to experiment with different types of creamy fillings until I get one that I like more.

[elise]

Hi Reid,
I've been waiting for that picture... YUM!! Thanks for posting. It looks utterly delicious.

[jupiter]

I am sooo glad there is no milk chocolate in this recipe. This is just...WOW...I'm speachless. I LOVE DARK CHOCOLATE! Great recipe Reid. Thanks!

[Reid]

Hi elise,

Coming from you...that means a lot! Thank you so much. By the way, any chance of you having a good cupcake filling recipe?

Hi Jup,

I don't really care for milk chocolate at all...and I really don't like to use cocoa powder either. Dark chocolate is my favorite...now if I can only figure out the recipe for that cake I had at Grand Café I'd be set for life.

[babe_kl]

my cupcakes turned out perfectly well considering it was my first time baking them using that particular recipe, will post up later.

[Reid]

Hi babe_kl,

I'm glad your cupcakes turned out well especially since you were using a new recipe. If I just make the slightest mistake, mine turn into doorstops! It's happened on too many times to mention.

Can't wait to see what yours look like.

[jupiter]

I haven't had these yet and only have read and seen it here. Yet I managed to dream about them this weekend...I think I need help. HAHA.