Dark Chocolate Cupcakes by Lisa Smith

I made these cupcakes for a birthday party and everybody really liked them! They look cute and are good for any chocolate lover!

Ingredients:

For the dough:

1 box of chocolate cake mix

For the chocolate butter cream:

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

3 cups of confectioner’s sugar

½ cup cocoa powder

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

6 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream

2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Follow the instructions on the back of your chocolate cake mix box, and allow your cupcakes to cool. I used a cake mix, because I didn’t have enough time to make my own, also I wanted to focus on the butter cream and decorations instead.
2. You can make this frosting ahead of time, but I recommend not putting it in the refrigerator, because the butter inside of it will cause it to become pretty stiff and it will take forever to get soft again. Instead leave it in a cold room.
3. In a microwave safe bowl, melt down the two cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips, for about twenty five seconds. Mix the chocolate, and if there are still a lot of large chunks put the chocolate back in for another fifteen seconds.
4. Again mix the chocolate until all the clumps are melted down and it’s smooth. Add two tablespoons of heavy whipping cream and mix. If it becomes stiff, that’s okay, if it doesn’t that’s okay too. Put that bowl aside.
5. In a mixing bowl mix the butter until it’s soft and creamy.
6. Sift the three cups of powdered sugar and cup of cocoa powder. And in three sets slowly add in the dry ingredients. And after each, mix and scrap down the sides of the bowl. Continue to do this, until all the dry ingredients are gone.
7. I know it can become pretty stiff and hard for the mixer. Add in the rest of the heavy whipping cream and the two teaspoons of vanilla extract. Mix until well incorporated.
8. Finally take the bowl of semi-sweet chocolate, and mix that into the butter cream. Until well incorporated.
9. This frosted about twenty five cupcakes. Feel free to drizzle some melted chocolate, or some nuts on your cupcakes! Have fun!