Chocolate Cupcakes with Ganache Frosting

After this week, I have decided that chocolate should be a food group. Who doesn't need a little chocolate every now and then? I think almost everything I have made over the past two weeks has involved some kind of chocolate. Tonight I made chocolate cupcakes with chocolate ganache frosting. They turned out so pretty, almost too pretty to eat. I am so proud of myself for making these, and honestly not screwing them up. I enjoy baking, but I feel that I cook better than I bake. Here are a few pictures for you. Keep in mind they were not photoshopped images, so there is a shiny spot right in the middle of a cupcake. Enjoy and as usual, the recipe is below the images. Have a great night everyone.

Here is the ganache. It's so pretty just sitting in the bowl.

Here they are on the cooling rack.

Isn't it so pretty?


Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache Frosting adapted from: www.thepioneerwoman.com

Ingredients

• CUPCAKES
• 2 cups Sugar
• 2 cups All-purpose Flour
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 cup Buttermilk
• 2 whole Eggs
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 2 sticks 1 Cup Butter
• 4 Tablespoons (heaping) Cocoa Powder
• 1 cup Water, Boiling 
• GANACHE
• 8 ounces, weight Bittersweet Chocolate
• 1 cup Heavy Cream
• 6 Tablespoons Corn Syrup
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 18 muffin cups with baking spray.

To make the cake batter, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Set aside.

In a separate container, combine buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla. Stir to combine and set aside.

In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and stir to combine. Add boiling water, allow to bubble for a few seconds, then turn off heat.

Pour chocolate mixture over flour mixture. Stir a few times to cool the chocolate. Pour buttermilk mixture over the top and stir to combine.

Pour 1/4 cup cake batter into each muffin cup. 

Bake for 20 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then remove cupcakes and allow to cool on a baking rack.

To make the ganache, heat cream and corn syrup over medium heat. Chop chocolate and add to a bowl. Add vanilla to cream mixture, then pour cream mixture over the top of the chopped chocolate. Whisk together until melted, smooth, and glossy.

Dunk cupcakes in ganache. Allow to cool and set before serving.