Chocolate Nutella Cupcakes

Chocolate Nutella Cupcakes

1 cup flour

1/4 cup cocoa powder

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

4 T. butter, softened

1 egg, room temp.

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 cup lukewarm water

1/4 cup buttermilk

Nutella

Preheat oven to 350 and line muffin tin with muffin cup and spray with cooking spray. Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt into a bowl. In another bowl beat both sugars and butter until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Add the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the water and buttermilk beating on low speed until just combined. Beat on medium speed just until no traced of flour remain. Bake in prepared pan for 15-20 minutes. Let cool completely. Fill with Nutella.

Best Frosting EVER!!!

The ingredients seem weird but this is the best frosting!!!

3 T. flour

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla

whisk together the flour and milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk continuously until it starts to thicken (you will be able to start to see the bottom of the pan. Strain through a mesh strainer (I use a spoon and press it into the strainer to get it all through). Put in the fridge and let it cool completely. Using the whisk attachment, beat butter and sugar until fluffy, while beating add the milk mixture and vanilla. Scrape the sides and beat on med-high for 7-8 minutes. Frost on cupcakes--or eat with a spoon which ever floats your boat!!

Another variation that is yummy, is to fill the cupcakes with the above frosting and then top the cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache which is super easy and yummy.

Chocolate Ganache

3/4 cup heavy cream

2 T. butter, melted

8 oz. semi-sweet or dark chocolate, chopped

Place chocolate in a bowl and pour melted butter over it. Place cream in microwave for about 2 minutes-it needs to be at a simmer. Immediately pour over the chocolate and cover with plastic wrap. Let it sit for about 3 minutes and then stir until smooth. Let it cool until it's a good spreading consistency and spread on cupcakes.