Decadent, Dark, and Delicious Chocolate Cupcakes

I'm a chocolate lover and this Decadent, Dark, and Delicious Chocolate Cupcake recipe is one of my favorites to make. They're moist and light and at the same time have a flavorful rich chocolate taste.

Ingredients

½ cup of Hershey's Dutch Cocoa

1 ⅓ cups of all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon of baking powder

1 cup of boiling water

½ cup unsalted room temperature butter

2 large eggs

2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

8 oz. sour cream

For the frosting

1 ½ cups of confectioner's sugar, sifted

⅔ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

4 oz. unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped

Chocolate shavings for garnish (optional)

1 ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract

How to Make the Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line cupcake pans with 24 liners and set aside.

Using a small bowl mix boiling water and cocoa powder until smooth. Let cool to room temperature.

Using another bowl whisk together baking powder, flour, and salt.

Using an electric mixer beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, stirring after each addition. Beat until smooth. Beat in vanilla extract and then add in flour mixture a little at a time until blended. Add room temperature cocoa mixture and stir until smooth. Lastly, add in 8 oz of sour cream and blend until smooth. It will become fluffy.

Fill each cupcake liner until about ⅔ full and bake for 16-18 minutes. Check progress with a toothpick. Oven times will vary especially when adding sour cream to the mix. Toothpick should come out clean. To avoid dry cupcakes, don't overbake.

Place cupcake pans on to wire rack. Once cooled, remove from pan.

How to Make the frosting

Using a double boiler or small saucepan melt chocolate. Let cool to room temperature.

Using your electric mixer beat room-temperature butter until smooth and creamy. (If you use butter that is not room temperature it will result in chunks and not smooth.) Add confectioner's sugar a little at a time until all is added. Mix in vanilla extract. Beat on high until frosting is smooth.

Using a piping bag decorate cupcakes and sprinkle garnish on top.

Yields about 24 cupcakes

Tell me, do these look delicious?