Chocolate Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream

 

Valentine's Day is silly. Why do we need a day to tell someone we love them?
Spread the love every day people!!

I use Valentine's Day as an excuse to decorate everything in pink hearts and eat lots of chocolate.
Forever alone.

Cupcakes are a good way to show someone you care. On ANY day of the year!
And people LOVED these cupcakes. I made them for a bake sale and everyone who tried them raved about them. A perfect Valentine's treat!

Chocolate Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream

adapted from: Annie's Eats

Ingredients:

Cupcakes:
9 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
8 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup strong coffee (or water)
1/2 cup whole or low-fat milk


Frosting:
16 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
6 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
Pink icing color (optional)

Directions:

To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350° F.  Line two cupcake pans with paper liners.  In a small bowl sift together the cocoa powder, cake flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.  Mix in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl between additions.

In a liquid measuring cup, combine the coffee (or water) and milk.  Add half of the dry ingredients to the mixer and mix on low speed just until incorporated.  Stir in the coffee(or water)-milk mixture and mix until combined.  Add in the remaining dry ingredients, again mixing just until incorporated.  Divide the batter evenly between the cupcake liners, filling the cups about 3/4 full.  Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.


To make the frosting, place the butter and jam in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Cream on medium-high speed until well incorporated, about 2 minutes.  Sift in the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.