Sunday 24 July 2011

Hazelnut and Chocolate Cupcakes (finally some Hummingbird cake!)

These are possibly the most delicious cupcakes I've ever eaten (and I've eaten a lot of cupcakes) the frosting is absolutely amazing (I wont lie, I would happily eat it with a spoon) and if I had less self-control they would be all gone already...

I always seem to bake at the weekend; partly because I love baking, and partly because I love eating the yummy results of said baking. This weekend I thought it was about time I used a cupcake recipe from  my beloved hummingbird book, and I SO glad I chose this one, it really is awesome, and very easy -definitely give this one a go :)


You will need:

100g plain flour
20g cocoa powder
140 caster sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
a pinch of salt
40g butter, room temperature
120 whole milk (I used semi-skimmed
as we never have whole in the house, it worked fine)
1 egg
120g hazelnut chocolate spread (i.e. nutella)


1) Place flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter into a bowl and mix (with a handheld electric whisk) on a slow speed until it's all combined- it looks a LOT like sand at this stage (very weird)




2) Slowly pour in the milk, whilst beating at a medium speed. Continue until everything is well mixed, it looks a lot more normal now :)





3) Add the egg, and beat again.




4) Spoon/pour (it's quite runny) the mixture into cases- I made 11 biggish cupcakes- and bake in a preheated oven at 170c (335f, Gas mark 3) for about 20 minutes (as usual, if a skewer comes out clean, they're cooked) Leave to cool completely on a cooling rack.

5) Hollow a little of the top out- I used a teaspoon- and fill with nutella (I did not measure out 120g, I just used as much as necessary) Eat the little chunks of leftover cake (not an actual step, but I liked it)





Frosting: (the best frosting in the world!) 

250g icing sugar
80g unsalted butter (room temperature) I only had salted butter, it worked out fine!
25ml whole milk (again, I used semi-skimmed)
80g hazelnut chocolate spread.

1) Place icing sugar (sifted) butter and milk in a bowl and beat until light and fluffy (this will take a few minutes)

2) Add the nutella and mix by hand until combined. 


3) Spoon frosting onto your cupcakes, and add hazelnuts for decoration if you wish



4) Eat them!




I LOVE these cupcakes, the cake is moist and soft, and nice and chocolatey without being too rich and heavy- plus the nutella splodge in the middle is lovely :) However, the best bit is the frosting! It's creamy and light, and chocolatey and yummy :) It's my birthday in a couple of weeks and I have no doubt this frosting will be on my cake; I think it will go really well with a coffee cake (my favorite) I am salivating just thinking about it! (and don't worry, I'm sure I'll include a recipe!)

Have you baked anything recently?

          
                                                                                       xGretalRabbitx

7 comments:

  1. Thanks :) Seriously, make some! They're amazing!!!
    xGretalRabbitx

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  2. I've had my eye on this recipe for a while and seeing these pictures is making me long to bake them even more. Mmmmmm!

    Loveaudrey xXx

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  3. Do it! They're really fast and easy to make and the frosting is to die for :)
    xGretalRabbitx

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  4. I am bookmarking this recipe to try at some point! I am no baker...I've only recently started baking (mostly muffins...and only a couple batches have turned out well), but I've always wanted to try cupcakes :) I'm wondering if nesquik chocolate powder would be a good substitute for cocoa powder? The bf is obsessed with choco milk and we always have a gigantic thing of that around haha.

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  5. Great recipe! I will definitely try it!
    XOXO from a new follower,
    Catanya

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  6. Melanie it might work with nesquik, but it definitely won't have such a chocolately flavour, so I think cocoa powder would be best :) I think there are some recipes out there that have nesquik in them though- google will tell you! :p

    Thank you for following Catanya, let me know how they turn out!

    xGretalRabbitx

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