Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Chocolate Cupcakes

A cup cake also known as fairy cake is a small cake. It is designed to serve one person. I usually make cupcakes for my hubby and son. They usually bring it to the office (for my hubby) and to school (for my son). My hubby always shares it with his officemates. It is easy to bring cupcakes because they don’t require plates and it is served individually. I usually don’t put frosting for my cupcakes unless I will bring it to birthday parties or celebrations.

I got my chocolate cupcake recipe from Good Housekeeping magazine (Philippine edition). But I find it a little dry. I want my cupcakes moist and a little spongey so I changed some of the ingredients and suit it for my taste.



Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour
1 ½ cups refined sugar
2/3 cup cocoa
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup canola oil
2 eggs
1 cup milk
½ cup hot water
2 tsp. vanilla extract
cashew or walnuts (optional)

Procedure:

Line muffin pans with paper bake cups. Stir together all purpose flour, refined sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. I usually sift dry ingredients thrice. Add the butter, canola oil, milk, hot water and vanilla extract. Beat with mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Continue beating until smooth. Fill cups ½ full with batter. In on oven preheated to 350°F bake 15-20 minutes until center of cupcake springs back when touched lightly. Remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely.

The original recipe calls for 2/3 cup butter, and I changed it to the mixture of 1/3 cup butter and 1/3 cup canola oil. Good Housekeeping recipe also calls for 2/3 cup milk but I also changed it to 1 cup instead. I also add cashew nuts or walnuts.

12 comments:

Nick Ballesteros said...

*sigh* I love the smell of freshly-baked goodies.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Lani! Those cupcakes look fabulous!

Just a tip: using cooking oil rather than butter makes for moister cuppie-cakes that really melt in your mouth. I posted a recipe for chocolate cake on my blog (http://www.bloxster.net/sybdive/2581/Fudge+Without+the+Pudge.html); just pour the batter into muffin cups and bake for 12 - 15 minutes.

Anonymous said...

hehe i still have yet to buy a decent oven to experiment on cakes. haay kelan kaya! that cupcake looks really great!

Lory said...

hmmm...looks like something ALL of us (including my fussy hubby) will enjoy! Thanks for the tips! Does the 3x sifting make it rise better? Ganda ng dome ng cupcake mo!

Anonymous said...

Lani, i've just made some mini chocolate cakes too! Yours looks so moist and delicious!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi, i just saw your comment at Thess'.

I remember Joey [80 breakfasts] posting something about kaffir lime leaves not so long ago. Maybe you can ask her where the shop is in Phils. I hope you find it. :)

Anonymous said...

tumataginting! it looks so moist...paano ginagawa yan??

Anonymous said...

Those cupcakes look so gooood! Thanks for the substitution tips :)

I don't know if you ever got the kaffir lime leaf answer, just saw Mae's comment above. Anyway, I got dried ones at Spices and Flavours, a great spice store in Market! Market in the Fort which I actually posted about. If you want fresh, Gil Carandang of Herbana Farms (he has a stall at the Salcedo Saturday Market) grows his own. You may have to tell him in advance if you want some because he doesn't bring them all the time...hope that helps!

Lani said...

Watson:
Sarap talaga, kaya nga tumataba na naman ako (lol).

Midge:
I'll keep that in mind, thanks.

Iska:
Buy na, sarap magbake kaya lang kailangang magbike after kumain ng baked goodies (lol)

Manang:
I think it will really help (3x sifting). I learned that from Ms. Heny Sison.

Mae:
I know basta ikaw ang nagluto, yummy rin talaga.

Mita:
Iyong sinabi ni Midge, totoo talaga. But pinaghahalo ko rin ang canola oil and butter para naroon pa rin ang buttery flavor.

Joey:
Thanks also and you're welcome.

Anonymous said...

looks so so yummmmy!

Anonymous said...

I just saw Joey's comment above too! :)

Joey, Lani, if you get fresh kaffir lime leaves, you can freeze them and they keep fresh. This is what i normally do. Just take it out as and when you're ready to pop it in the pot.

They keep in the freezer for months and months. :)

Anonymous said...

i love those cupcakes! tnx for sharing :)