偶寐卡美記 • Hermit 2008

Ultimate Chocolate Cupcakes With Ganache Filling Recipe

Ingredients

Ganache Filling:
    * 2 oz bittersweet chocolate (Callebaut Intense dark chocolate L-60-40NV or Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate Baking Bar)  
    * 1/4 cup heavy cream  
    * 1 tbs confectioners' sugar  

Chocolate Cupcake:  
    * 3 oz bittersweet chocolate (Callebaut Intense dark chocolate L-60-40NV or Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate Baking Bar)  
    * 1/3 cup (1oz) Dutch-processed cocoa  
    * 3/4 cup hot coffee  
    * 3/4 cup (4 1/8oz) bread flour  
    * 3/4 cup (5 1/4oz) granulated sugar  
    * 1/2 tsp table salt  
    * 1/2 tsp baking soda  
    * 6 tbs vegetable oil  
    * 2 large eggs  
    * 2 tsp white vinegar  
    * 1 tsp vanilla extract  

Creamy Chocolate Frosting:  
    * 1/3 cup (2 1/3oz) granulated sugar  
    * 2 large egg whites  
    * Pinch table salt  
    * 12 tbs (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened and cut into 1 tbs pieces  
    * 6 oz bittersweet chocolate (Callebaut Intense dark chocolate L-60-40NV or Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate Baking Bar), melted and cooled. Cool chocolate to between 85 to 100 degrees before adding to frosting.  
    * 1/2 tsp vanilla extract  

How to make it

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Ganache Filling:
    * Place chocolate, cream, and confectioners' sugar in medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat in microwave until mixture is warm to touch., 20-30 seconds. Whisk until smooth; transfer bowl to refrigerator and let stand until just chilled, no longer than 30 minutes.

Cupcakes:
    * adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard-size muffin pan (cups have 1/2 cup capacity) with baking-cup liners.
    * Place chocolate and cocoa in medium bowl. Pour hot coffee over mixture and whisk until smooth. Set in refrigerator to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
    * Whisk flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.
    * Whisk oil, eggs, vinegar, and vanilla into cooled chocolate-cocoa mixture until smooth. Add flour mixture and whisk until smooth.
    * Divide batter evenly among muffin pan cups. Place one slightly rounded teaspoon ganache filling on top of each cupcake.
    * Bake until cupcakes are set and just firm to the touch, 17-19 minutes. Cool cupcakes in muffin pan on wire rack until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes.
    * Carefully lift each cupcake from muffin pan and set on wire rack. Cool to room temperature before frosting, about 1 hour. Frost and serve.

Swiss Chocolate meringue buttercream Frosting:
    * Combine sugar, egg whites, and salt in bowl of stand mixer; place bowl over pan of simmering water. Whisking gently but constantly, heat mixture until slightly thickened, foamy, and registers 150 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 2-3 minutes.
    * Place bowl in stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat mixture on medium speed until consistency of shaving cream and slightly cooled, 1-2 minutes.
    * Add butter, 1 piece at a time, until smooth and creamy. Once all butter is added, add cooled and melted chocolate and vanilla; mix until combined.
    * Increase speed to medium-high and beat until light, fluffy, and thoroughly combined, about 30 seconds, scraping beater and sides of bowl with rubber spatula as necessary. Place finished frosting in microwave 5-10 seconds and stir 'til creamy if it becomes too thick to spread (if made in advance.)

VARIATIONS:

Creamy Malted Milk Chocolate Frosting:
    * Follow recipe for Creamy Chocolate Frosting, reducing sugar to 1/4 cup, substituting milk chocolate for bittersweet chocolate, and adding 1/4 cup malted milk powder to frosting with vanilla extract in step 2.

Creamy Vanilla Frosting:
    * Follow recipe for Creamy Chocolate Frosting, omitting bittersweet chocolate and increasing sugar to 1/2 cup. (if final frosting seems too thick, warm mixer bowl briefly over pan of simmering water. Place bowl back on mixer and beat on medium-high until creamy.)

Creamy Peanut Butter Frosting:
    * Follow recipe for Creamy Chocolate Frosting, omitting bittersweet chocolate, increasing sugar to 1/2 cup and increasing salt to 1/8 tsp. Add 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter to frosting with vanilla extract in step 2. Garnish cupcakes with 1/2 cup chopped peanuts.

Creamy Butterscotch Frosting:
    * Follow recipe for Creamy Chocolate Frosting, substituting dark brown sugar for granulated sugar and increasing salt to 1/2 tsp

Why this recipe works