Sunday 31 October 2010

Chocolate cupcakes with either chocolate Ganache or chocolate buttercream




Apologies for the limited number of photos but these cupcakes – sadly – weren’t for me to eat; they were a thank you to Mr CC’s work colleagues for their generous wedding gift.


Since my last post Mr CC has made an honest woman of me! Our wedding was extremely small (just the way we wanted it) so there are no photos of wedding cake as we haven’t had it yet – we’re saving it for a bigger party at an as-yet-unknown future date. We did however, manage a Laduree tea the day after our wedding so don’t fret that I am deficient in cake!


I baked a double batch of sponges and topped half with buttercream and half with Ganache. I used a star nozzle for piping as you have to be careful when piping anything chocolate lest it comes out looking undesirable. You know what I’m getting at, I’m sure…..

Both toppings were delicious ; the buttercream is lighter whereas the ganache is richer, more like a truffle. Here is the ganache (the previous pics have been of the buttercream):


Mr CC’s feedback was that the cupcakes were very well received…but then if you can’t please a department of men with chocolate sponge, chocolate buttercream, Ganache and maltesers, what can you please them with?


Ingredients

For the chocolate cupcake sponge (these quantities will make 12 cupcake sponges – the mix doubles up easily should you wish to make 24):
125g unsalted butter, at room temperature
125g caster sugar
2 eggs
100g self raising flour
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoon milk
50g white chocolate chips

For the chocolate Ganache (this is the quantity for 12 cupcakes):
300ml whipping cream
1 tablespoon liquid glucose
200g plain chocolate, roughly chopped (I actually used ½ dark, ½ milk chocolate)

For the buttercream (this is the quantity for 12 cupcakes):
170g unsalted butter, at room temperature
340g icing sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons boiling water

To decorate: maltesers

Method

Preheat the oven to 190°C/fan oven 170°C/375°F/Gas mark 5.

Line a cupcake pan with paper cases.

Beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Beat in the eggs, flour, cocoa and milk.

When the mixture is smooth and well combined, stir in the chocolate chips.

Spoon the batter into the paper cases.

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the cupcakes comes out clean. Mine took 15 minutes.

Remove from the tin as soon as possible and leave to cool on a wire rack – removing from the tin is important as the heat of the tin will mean that the cupcakes continue to cook.

To make the chocolate Ganache: Bring the cream to the boil in a saucepan.

Remove from the heat and stir in the liquid glucose.

Place the chocolate in the cream and stir until the chocolate melts.

Leave to cool and then whisk to lighten the texture. If it isn’t thick enough to pipe, refrigerate for 30 mins and try again.

Pipe or spread over the chocolate cupcakes.

To make the buttercream: beat the butter until it is soft.

Sift the icing sugar over the butter along with the cocoa powder and water and beat until smooth, soft and well combined. The more you beat, the lighter and more whipped the buttercream will taste.

Pipe or spread over the chocolate cupcakes.

Top off each cupcake with a malteser.

Bask in the glory of the wonderful thing you have created.

Eat.

18 comments:

Caroline said...

Congratulations to you and Mr CC!!!!! I hope you had a lovely day and everything went as you wanted. Best of luck for your future together!

Lucky Mr CC's co-workers too - these look delicious!

Rhyleysgranny said...

Many congratulations to you and Mr Crusader. I hope you had the loveliest of days. Your cupcakes look so good. I love chocolate ganache. Wins hands down for me every time

Unknown said...

Congats Mrs. CC!! All the best.

Choclette said...

Congratulations to you both. I quite like the idea of getting married quietly and then having a big party when the idea has settled in a bit and you have more time to enjoy and plan the party. Cakes look delicious. I made a super delicious ganache at the weekend to top a cake or some cupcakes and then couldn't think what cakes to make, so ended up just having the ganache - decedent but scrumilicious.

Katie said...

Many congratulations!! Would love to see any photos you have. Wishing you every happiness

Sarah said...

Congratulations!!! May your days be full of good cake and other tasty treats.

(Those cupcakes look GREAT!)

Scarlett said...

Congratulations to you both! Love he idea of the ganache topped cupcakes too!

Anonymous said...

Best wishes to you both for a lifetime of love and happiness!

Hannah xxx

Brownieville Girl said...

Huge congratulations .... wishing you a happy lifetime together :-}

Maggie said...

You kept that one quiet CC!
Congratulations to you both.
The cupcakes look wonderful.

Liz Winterburn said...

Congratulations to you & Mr CC hope you both had a wonderful day. Wishing you both a life time of love & happiness.

The cakes look so yummy :-)

I heart cupcakes said...

Congratulations! Sounds very much like our wedding, very small and just fabulous. I hope you both have a long and happy marriage full of cake with lashings of frosting X

Baking Addict said...

Congratulations! Best wishes to you and Mr CC.
The cakes look gorgeous as always. Cant go wrong with chocolate!

Cakelaw said...

Congratulations Crusader!!! You kept that very quiet. These cupcakes loo devine - a lovely thank you gift.

Sam said...

Congratulations CC! I hope you had a great day.

The cakes look fantastic!

aforkfulofspaghetti said...

Hurrah! Congrats! May your lives be filled with many chocolate cupcakes and all sorts of other goodies :)

coco cooks said...

Like how you just sneaked that little bit of info in. Congrats to the Caked Crusaders! May your wedded life be full of health, wealth,Bliss, and cake.

mooncat said...

Congratulations on your wedding :)i hope that you had a fabulous day!

I don't usually leave comments but i just had to, i was looking for a recipe for cupcakes for new years eve, but when i saw these i couldn't wait so decided a trial run was a definate must.
WOW, they are gorgeous, i'm sure these will become a firm favourite. Thank you :)and thanks from my fella who has been more than happy to help test them out!