Chocolate Cupcakes...Need I Say More?

I was in a baking mood today...more specifically I had a huge craving for chocolate cupcakes! I'm trying this new thing where I make baked goods from scratch as often as possible instead of reaching for the oh so easy boxed items of yumminess at the grocery store. I think that older generations had it right when they were making everything from scratch (yes I know they didn't have boxed goods, but still). There is something so much more personal about homemade goodies that just warms my heart :) Anyways, as usual I ran to Pintrest for some inspiration and ran across this oh so heavenly recipe from 52 Kitchen Adventures! I could tell from the start that this one was going to be good. If the batter is amazing, you can bet the end results are going to be even better!

Amazing Chocolate Cupcakes

1/2 C butter, room temperature

1 1/4 C sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

3/4 C flour

1/2 t baking powder

1/4 t baking soda

1/4 t salt

1/2 C unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 C milk (I used fat free and it was still yummy)

1 t vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a mixing bowl, beat butter until softened and smooth. Add sugar and beat for a few minutes, until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each until well combined.

In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder. In a separate small bowl, combine milk and vanilla.

Add about 1/3 of dry ingredients to butter and sugar and mix until combined. Add about 1/2 of wet ingredients to mixture and mix until combined. Continue alternating dry and wet, mixing in between (finish with the remaining dry ingredients).

Fill cupcake tins about 1/2 full (don’t overfill – you only need 1/2) and bake for around 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Also don’t worry – these will come out flat, but that’s perfect for smoothing on a layer of frosting!

*On a side note, there is also a yummy looking ganache frosting recipe that goes along with these cupcakes. I didn't have the ingredients and didn't feel like running to the Commissary for the third, yes third time, in one day.

I hope everyone enjoys these goodies and the new blog design :)  

The Etheridges