One Bowl Double Chocolate Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
Friend, these double chocolate cupcakes are about as simple as recipes come. Since the chocolate cupcakes are so easy to make, you can spend a few extra minutes whipping up a bowl of the sweetest strawberry frosting. Seriously, you need the frosting. Don’t skip the frosting!
In a medium-size Dutch oven (I use a 3qt Dutch oven) or saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter, chocolate chips, and cocoa powder. Once melted, whisk in the honey. Turn off the heat and remove the pan from direct contact with the burner. Whisk in the milk, eggs, and vanilla extract.
Using a large sieve, sift the flour over the chocolate mixture. Add the baking soda and salt. Whisk the dry ingredients into the chocolate mixture for 1 minute.
Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners. Fill each cupcake liner half full. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
Allow the cupcakes to fully cool before frosting.
Strawberry Powder:
In the bowl of a food processor, place the freeze-dried strawberries. Pulse the strawberries for 1 minute until they resemble a fine powder. Sift out any remaining strawberry chunks by pressing the powder through a sieve and into a bowl. Throw out or eat (as a snack) the strawberry chunks in the sieve. You'll need the powder to make the strawberry frosting.
Strawberry Buttercream Frosting:
In the bowl of a stand-mixer (you can also use a wooden spoon or a hand-mixer), fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter and powdered sugar. Start on low for the first forty seconds and then increase the speed to medium-high until "whipped" (about 2-3 minutes).
Add the heaving cream, vanilla extract, and strawberry powder (add one tablespoon at a time until you reach the taste and color you desire). Beat the ingredients for 1 minute, until whipped and creamy. If you're frosting is too thick, add more heavy cream, 1 tablespoons at a time.
Once the cupcakes are cool, frost the cupcakes with the strawberry buttercream.
Notes
The "where to buy" links provide links to the actual products I use. As always, I recommend shopping around online and at local stores for the best prices and products you love. Find all my favorite kitchen essentials, here.Leftover strawberry powder can be stored in an air-tight jar at room temperature.