Hey There, Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Icing

Hey There, Cupcake! This a chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting recipe originally from Claire Crespo's book. I posted it years ago on a rainy day after letting little baby Fuzz try it out on her own. The cupcakes were good, but for some reason I abandoned the recipe and just left the frosting. I've added the recipe back in case you want to try the cupcakes.

The book Hey There, Cupcake! is very cute and was much-loved by my daughter growing up. There are some solid scratch base recipes, and tons of cute decorating ideas, which of course is why Fuzz loved it.

Hey There Cupcake Recipe Notes

As for the recipe, it's supposed to make 14 to 18 cakes, but Fuzz made 12, so hers were a little tall and looked like muffins. They tasted great – kind of moist, denser than some, and similar to what you’d get a cupcake shop. My go-to recipe is actually a cocoa based one, but for those of you who like cupcakes made with melted chocolate and the depth of texture it provides, this one’s a good pick.

Vanilla Frosting Tips

I think we really liked the frosting as much or more than the cupcakes, but both are good. The frosting is a typical American style buttercream made with 1 stick of butter, about a pound of sugar, salt, vanilla and half & half. Some recipes similar to this one call for double the butter, but this one is has a higher ratio of and gets a little extra fat from the half & half. Definitely use half & half or maybe a combo of cream and milk if you have some. Or you can hunt down one of the versions with 2 sticks of butter.

By the way, if you don’t own one I highly recommend investing $11 in the Ateco 6-Piece Pastry Tube and Tips Set. I know I’ve said this before, but as I used mine again today I thought how much easier piping was than spreading with a knife. So get some of the big, cupcake size Ateco tips and some regular or disposable bags.

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• Small Batch Vanilla Cupcakes
• Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Peanut Frosting

Recipe

Chocolate Cupcakes With Vanilla Frosting

Anna

A basic vanilla frosting recipe

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Cooling Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12 cups

Ingredients

 

• 3 oz. unsweetened chocolate (84 grams)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour (measure with a light hand or weigh) (260 grams)
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 ½ cups sugar (300 grams)
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (114 grams)
• 1 cup sour cream (be sure to bring to room temp) (230 grams)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• ¼ cup hot water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Frosting

• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened (114 grams)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 3 ¾ cup powdered sugar 1 pound
• ¼ cup room temperature half & half

Instructions

 

• Bring all of your ingredients to room temperature.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 12 to 14 muffin cups with paper liners
• Melt the chocolate in the microwave by heating on high for 30 seconds and stirring. Repeat until melted. Let cool slightly. It can be a little bit warm, but not hot when you put it in.
• Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, and sugar together in a large mixing bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
• Add the softened butter and room temperature sour cream to the flour mixture and beat on low until blended. Stir in the melted chocolate.
• Add the eggs one by one, beating on low speed until blended.
• Lastly, add the vanilla and water and beat on medium just until batter is smooth.
• Divide the batter between the cups and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cake springs back when touched.
• Remove from oven and let cool.

Frosting

• In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and salt. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating with an electric mixer on low to medium low. Add a little of the half & half in slowly increase speed, beating and scraping.
• Beat in the vanilla and remaining half & half until you have a smooth & creamy frosting. Add more half & half if you’d like a thinner frosting.

Notes

Makes enough to frost one 2 layer cake

Keyword Chocolate Cupcakes, Hey There Cupcake

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!