Description

Rich chocolate cupcakes filled with sweet strawberry buttercream and topped with glossy chocolate ganache. Like biting into your favorite chocolate covered strawberry, but in cupcake form. Perfect for Valentine's Day or any special occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup hot coffee
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
2/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup freeze-dried strawberries
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Fresh strawberries for garnish

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F and line muffin pans with cupcake liners.
Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
In another bowl, whisk oil, sugar, egg, vanilla, and buttermilk until combined.
Pour wet mixture into dry ingredients, then add hot coffee and mix until smooth.
Fill cupcake liners two-thirds full with batter.
Bake for 20 to 22 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
For ganache, place chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl.
Heat cream until it just starts to simmer, then pour over chocolate.
Let sit 3 minutes, then stir until smooth and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
For buttercream, pulse freeze-dried strawberries in blender until fine powder.
Beat softened butter for 2 minutes until creamy.
Add confectioners' sugar, strawberry powder, heavy cream, and vanilla, beat on high for 2 minutes.
Cut a circle into center of each cooled cupcake, about 1 inch deep.
Fill each cupcake with strawberry buttercream.
Replace top of cupcake cone over filling.
Spread thickened ganache generously on top of each filled cupcake.
Garnish with fresh strawberry slices if desired.

Notes

The cupcakes taste even better the next day when flavors blend together. Don't skip the coffee as it enhances the chocolate flavor without tasting like coffee. Use freeze-dried strawberries, not fresh, for the buttercream to avoid separation. Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature for best results.