So it’s Cupcake Friday again….and I decided that it was time to delve back into the world of chocolate. Haven’t done a good chocolate cake in a while. Been cheating with cocoa-based recipes, but today, I wanted that rich, dark, decadent chocolate. The kind that would make Ghirardelli drool. I found this recipe on Food.com and thought it sounded interesting. It combines the decadence of rich melted chocolate with whipped egg whites, so the resulting cake is lighter, like a sponge cake, yet still with that rich chocolatey goodness. The frosting is simple, but ohmygod good….just more melted chocolate and whipping cream. Seriously, does it get much better than that? I think not.

This is what will keep you warm on a cold winter’s day. Or…you know…any day.

There is a recipe at the end for how to make your own chocolate curls for garnishing the cupcakes. As you can see, I didn’t go the distance on that. I didn’t have a loaf pan (oh Santa….are you listening?) and none of my other containers seemed suitable…so I used chocolate jimmies instead. I know, cheating right? Except…no. In my defense, well, first off, I love jimmies. And how often do they really work into the daily menu? So I had to take advantage. Besides, it’s the holiday season, where you’re supposed to use sprinkles on stuff. It’s like, Clausian Law or something. The photo below is pre-jimmies. Because it just looks better.

I think this is now one of my favorite chocolate cake/frosting combos ever. Light, rich cake and melted fudge frosting…you really must try it!

So….here you go with Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes! Enjoy!

CUPCAKES
3/4 cup unsalted butter
6 ounces semisweet chocolate , chopped
3/4 cup sugar
4 eggs , separated
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 325°F.
2. Grease 12-cup muffin pan or line with baking cups.
3. Place metal bowl over medium saucepan of barely simmering water or use double boiler.
4. Add butter and 6 oz chocolate. Let stand until melted; stir until smooth.
5. Cool to room temperature, then whisk in sugar and egg yolks.
6. Stir in flour and baking powder.
6. In large bowl, beat egg whites at medium speed until frothy.
7. Add cream of tartar.
8. Beat at medium-high speed until soft peaks form.
9. Fold one-fourth of the whites into chocolate mixture.
10. Gently fold in remaining whites until mixed.
11.Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling two-thirds full. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes, remove from pan; cool completely.

FROSTING
6 ounces semisweet chocolate , coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons whipping cream

Directions:
1. In medium saucepan, combine remaining 6 oz semisweet chocolate and whipping cream.
2. Heat over low heat until melted and smooth, stirring frequently.
3. Spread each cupcake with frosting
If garnishing with chocolate curls: Let cupcakes stand until frosting is cool but not sett, then garnish with chocolate curls.

Making Chocolate Curl Garnish:

Ingredients: 6 oz semi sweet chocolate

Directions:
1. line 4×2x2-inch mini loaf pan with plastic wrap.
2. Melt 6 oz of the chocolate in metal bowl set over pan of barely simmering water (do not let bowl touch water).
3. Pour into mini loaf pan; cool until firm.
4. Unmold chocolate; remove plastic wrap.
5. Using vegetable peeler, make curls.

Now that I have you in a chocolate haze of deliriousness…it’s time to announce the winner of this week’s Free Stuff Friday contest. Winner receives an advance copy of the first in my Cupcake Club Romance series…SUGAR RUSH! And the lucky winner is……Heather G!! Woo hoo, Heather!! Just send me your address to donna@donnakauffman.com and I will get the book in the mail!

Okay…so now on to the Big News! (What, chocolate wasn’t enough? Why no, no it was not. It’s the holidays, dammit, and we want more!) Well, I’m gonna give you more. With the urging of my wonderful publisher, Kensington Books, I now have a brand, spankin’ new Fan Page on Facebook. I know! It’s where all the cool blog babes hang out. So…come on over and hang out…and if you click the Like button…you’ll be in the running for my next contest, which will be announce Monday on the Fan Page. See you there!

Tags: Writing //