Bittersweet Chocolate Cupcakes Recipes

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE GANACHE - 2 WAYS

Steps:

• To make the ganache, place the chocolate, heavy cream and instant coffee granules in a heat-proof bowl over a pot of simmering water. Melt the chocolate until it's just melted and stir it until it's smooth.
• For whipped ganache, allow the ganache to cool completely and then put it in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and mix on high speed until it is a very light.

BITTERSWEET MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350. Insert liners into a cupcake pan.
• In the top of a double boiler melt the butter and chocolate together. Cool for 5 minutes.
• In a large mixing bowl beat the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until yellow, thick and creamy, about 5 minutes.
• Fold the egg mixture into the melted chocolate-butter mixture until fully integrated. Fold in the flour.
• Fill the cupcake liners two-thirds full. Bake until the sides of the cupcakes look firm but their centers are still soft.
• Remove from the oven and cool for 20 minute Remove the liners gently. Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

GHIRARDELLI® MINI BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Line with parchment paper. Grease and flour the paper; set pan aside.
• In a small saucepan, place 3/4 cup of the dark chocolate baking chips with the shortening. Heat over low heat until melted and smooth; set aside to cool.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat 3/4 cup butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and beat 2 minutes more or until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low after each. Beat in chocolate mixture and vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk into butter mixture, beating on low after each addition. Spread batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack.
• Meanwhile for the frosting: Melt the remaining 1 cup dark chocolate baking chips and cool. In a very large mixing bowl, beat 3/4 cup butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Beat in melted chocolate, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 cup of the powdered sugar until combined. Beat in milk and vanilla. Gradually beat in the remaining powdered sugar. If necessary, beat in enough additional milk until smooth and spreadable.
• Cut rounds of the cake using a 3-inch round cutter or heart cutter.* Halve the cakes crosswise to form 2 thin layers. Spread frosting over each round (both layers). Stack one frosted round over the other. Sprinkle with mini baking chips.

MINI CHOCOLATE GANACHE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 24-cup mini-muffin pan with paper liners. Combine the chocolate, cocoa powder and brown sugar in a large bowl; add the hot coffee and whisk until smooth. Let cool to room temperature.
• Whisk the flour, granulated sugar, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl. Whisk the egg, egg yolk, vegetable oil, buttermilk and vanilla into the melted chocolate mixture. Add the flour mixture and whisk until smooth. Spoon a scant tablespoon of batter into each mini-muffin cup. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Let cool a few minutes in the pan, then remove to a rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: Combine the heavy cream, corn syrup, butter and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat; add the chocolate and whisk until smooth, then let cool to room temperature. Fill a large bowl halfway with ice water. Transfer the chocolate mixture to a medium bowl; then carefully place it in the ice water and let sit, stirring every few minutes, until the frosting is thick enough to spread, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer the frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip and pipe onto the cupcakes.

BITTERSWEET GUINNESS CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.
• Combine cake mix, Guinness, oil and eggs in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Beat on low speed for one minute. Scrape bowl down and beat for 2 minutes on medium.
• Stir in chocolate, and pour batter into prepared muffin cups.
• Bake for 18-22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Let cool completely and frost with cream cheese frosting (recipe follows). Keep refrigerated.
• Cream cheese frosting:.
• Beat all ingredients together until smooth. Frost cooled cupcakes.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour an 8-inch springform pan.
• Place a large heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water, making sure the water doesn't touch the bowl. Put the butter and chocolate in the bowl, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate melts. Take the bowl off the heat and set aside.
• First, whisk the sugar into the chocolate mixture, then whisk in the eggs, coffee, and salt, whisking until the mixture is combined and smooth. Sprinkle on the flour and fold it in with a rubber spatula until it's incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and place it on a sheet pan. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes (see Cook's Note), until the top puffs up and cracks and the cake doesn't wobble when you jiggle the pan. (A toothpick will not come out clean.) Remove from the oven and cool completely on a baking rack. The cake will deflate as it cools. Run a small knife around the cake and remove the sides of the pan. Cut the cake in wedges and serve warm or at room temperature with sweetened whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or crème fraîche.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly butter eighteen 1/3-cup muffin cups. Stir 16 ounces chopped bittersweet chocolate in top of double boiler set over simmering water until melted and smooth. Cool slightly. Using electric mixer, beat eggs, egg yolks and sugar in large bowl until pale yellow and tripled in volume, about 5 minutes. Add melted chocolate and beat until blended. Divide cupcake batter equally among prepared muffin cups, filling cups about 3/4 full.
• Bake cupcakes until puffed and cracked on top, about 12 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Run knife around sides of muffin cups to loosen cupcakes, then carefully lift out with small metal spatula. Place chocolate cupcakes upside down on work surface.
• Bring whipping cream to simmer in small saucepan. Remove from heat. Add remaining 8 ounces chopped chocolate and unsalted butter; whisk until melted and smooth. Cool until slightly thickened and spreadable. Spread glaze over cakes. (Can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.) Serve cupcakes glaze side up.