Chocolate cupcakes – 2 recipes in 1

This cupcake recipe can be used as a tray bake as well. Don’t be scared of the runny consistency of the batter: the result is a very fluffly, redish chocolate cake.

For the filling and topping, I chose a gourmet version of a very traditional Brazilian recipe for a chocolate “fudge” called brigadeiro. I made it a bit less thick than the recipe calls for so that I could pipe it into a swirl on top of my cupcakes, but it is usually rolled into small balls and then coated with chocolate sprinkles or sugar.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

INGREDIENTS
3 cups flour
1 cup cocoa powder
2 eggs
2 cups caster sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups boiling water
pinch of salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp baking powder

METHOD
Preheat oven to 180^oC. Line 2 muffin tins with paper cups.
Combine flour, sugar and cocoa powder in a bowl. Add boiling water little by little and stir. Fold in baking soda, salt and baking powder. Pour the batter into the prepared tins and bake for about 20 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

GOURMET CHOCOLATE “FUDGE”

INGREDIENTS
395g sweetened condensed milk
1 tbsp unsalted butter
⅓ cup cocoa powder
⅓ cup dark chocolate buttons, or chopped chocolate
2 tbsp double cream
¼ tsp salt

METHOD
Combine all the ingredients (except vanilla) in a saucepan and cook over medium heat stirring constantly until all the ingredients are dissolved. Reduce heat to low and continue to stir with a whisk until the bottom of the pan starts to show and the mixture has thickened (I stopped at this point). Cook for 2 minutes more. Put it in a greased plate, cover with cling film and allow it to cool at room temperature.
Grease your hands and roll the mixture into small balls (makes about 30). Coat with chocolate sprinkles.

ASSEMBLING
Allow cupcakes to cool. Core the cupcakes using a small sharp knife or cupcake corer. With a tiny spatula (like those used for butter) fill in the holes with fudge. Cut the top of the cores and use them as lids (discard – or eat! – the remaining parts).
Put the fudge in a piping bag and make a swirl on top of each cupcake.

NOTE: Should you decide to make a sheet cake or a round one, you can use this glaze:

CHOCOLATE GLAZE
1 cup sugar
1 cup cocoa powder
3 tbsp water
2 tbsp unsalted butter
Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and cook until it thickens. Allow the cake to cool before spreading it on.