Cream Filled Chocolate Cupcakes

I am going to let ya'll in on a little secret.  I have always hated chocolate cake.  There I said it...  Growing up, my mother was the world's biggest chocoholic.  She loved all things chocolate but my sister and I just couldn't get on board.  At least not on board with chocolate cake or ice cream...  Brownies were okay, as was candy. 

These days, I have found that I like GOOD chocolate cake.  I've shared that one of my favorites is from Barefoot Contessa -- who's surprised that Ina can make anything delicious???  But today I want to share my favorite chocolate CUPcake recipe.  And how I made it even better :)

Aren't they pretty?  Wait till you see what I did to these...

I filled them up with CREAM!  I was baking these cupcakes for a friend the other day.  She only needed a dozen but if I'm baking, I might as well make two dozen and have some for my family, right?  I'm sure you would do the same...  I was also baking a key lime pie for her and I had some left over whipped cream from that.  Inspiration struck!  And now I'm sharing it with you!

I sifted together cake flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

I creamed butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.  Then I added the eggs and vanilla and beat it until it was a beautiful golden batter.

To this I added about a third of the dry ingredients I had sifted together.

And mixed it until it was just blended.  Then I added half of the water.

I continued alternating until everything was mixed together into this gorgeous batter.



I divided it between the cupcake liners and placed them into the oven to bake until done.

I iced these with a basic vanilla buttercream.  And threw a few sprinkles on some.  These were the dozen packed up for delivery.

And these were all for me...  I mean, my family...  :)  I filled them with whipped cream that I had blended with gelatin to make sure it would hold up well.  I made it just like my Bourbon Whipped Cream but I replaced the bourbon with water.

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My Favorite Chocolate Cupcakes, adapted from Betty Crocker

2 1/2 c cake flour, sifted
2/3 c cocoa
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 2/3 c sugar
3/4 c butter, softened
1 1/4 c water
1 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs, room temperature

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line muffin tins with cupcake liners for 24-30 cupcakes.

Sift together the dry ingredients other than sugar -- the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt -- set aside.  In the bowl of your mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add vanilla and eggs and mix until well incorporated.  Alternate mixing in the dry ingredients and the water, mixing until just blended after each addition.

Divide batter evenly between the liners.  Bake for 17-20 minutes or until the tops spring back when pressed.  Place on cooling rack to cool.

I'm linking up!!!  Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Recipe Sharing Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Too Cute Tuesday, Tip Me Tuesday, Tuesdays at the Table, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, These Chicks Cooked, Works for Me Wednesday, Cast Party Wednesday, What I Whipped Up Wednesday, Foodie Wednesday, Whisking Wednesday, Show & Share, {Wow Me} Wednesday, Full Plate Thursday, Sweet Treats Thursday, Turning the Table Thursday, Sweet Tooth Friday, Chic & Crafty Party, I'm Lovin It, Tasty Thursday, Bake with Bizzy, Friday Favorites, Friday Flair, Sweets for a Saturday, Strut Your Stuff Saturday, Sweet Indulgences Sunday, My Inner Baker, Simply Delish