Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

A very rich chocolate frosting.

Ingredients

• 1 cups butter, softened
• 4.5 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 1/4 cups baking cocoa
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup milk or half and half

Cream butter in stand mixer. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar, cocoa, and vanilla. Add enough milk for desired consistency. Beat frosting until fluffy; use whisk attachment and cream for a more whipped result.

Chocolate Filling

Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons granulated sugar

• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup half & half

• 5 egg yolks

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 2 square (2 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped

In small saucepan, blend sugar, flour, salt, half & half and egg yolks with wire whip. Stirring constantly, heat over medium heat until mixture is thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla and chocolate. Continue stirring until chocolate is melted. Cool quickly. To prevent a skin from forming, brush surface with melted butter. Stir before using.

Fills about 24 cupcakes.

Recipe from Wilton.com.

Vanilla Bean Buttercream

Possibly one of my favorite frostings; the use of real vanilla beans adds a great look (speckles all throughout) and strong vanilla flavor.

Ingredients

2½ sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise
2½ cups confectioners’ sugar (10 ounces)
Pinch salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons heavy cream

1. In a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the butter at medium-high speed until smooth, about 20 seconds. Using a paring knife, scrape seeds from vanilla bean into butter and beat mixture at medium-high speed to combine, about 15 seconds.

2. Add confectioners’ sugar and salt; beat at medium-low speed until most of the sugar is moistened, about 1 minute. Scrape down the bowl and beat at medium speed until mixture is fully incorporated, about 30 seconds; scrape bowl, add vanilla and heavy cream, and beat at medium speed until incorporated, about 20 seconds, then increase speed to medium-high and beat until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes, scraping down bowl once or twice.

Serves: 3 cups (enough for 12 cupcakes if using a large tip and piling on the icing).

Recipe from BrownEyedBaker.

Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 2 cups boiling water
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 1/4 cups white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 3 - 9 inch round cake pans. In medium bowl, pour boiling water over cocoa, and whisk until smooth. Let mixture cool. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at time, then stir in vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the cocoa mixture. Spread batter evenly between the 3 prepared pans.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Allow to cool.

Serves: about 24 cupcakes.

Recipe from Allrecipies.com.

Vanilla Bean Pastry Filling

A delicious filling for any cupcake…

Ingredients

• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise
• 6 egg yolks
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 pinch salt

Directions

1. Place the milk, half the sugar and the vanilla bean in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Combine the egg yolks and the remaining sugar in a bowl and whisk until light in color. Add in the flour and the salt, mix to combine.
3. When the milk just begins to boil, remove from heat and remove vanilla bean. Very slowly dribble the hot milk into the yolk mixture, stirring all the time. When about half of the milk has been added, place all of the yolk mixture into the saucepan over medium heat. Using a spatula or a whisk, mix the pastry cream as it heats, making sure to reach all of the corners of the pan when you stir. Bring the mixture to a boil. Let boil for about 1 minute, stirring constantly. The mixture will be thick.
4. Remove from heat and add the butter. Strain if you wish for a smoother cream. Place into a bowl and cover directly with plastic wrap to stop a skin from forming on the cream. Chill and use within a few days.

Serves: enough filling for 24-36 cupcakes.

Recipe from Allrecipies.com.

White Almond Wedding Cake

Definitely my favorite cake recipe of any flavor! Original recipe is for an 11x13 flat cake. It makes about 28 regular-sized cupcakes. Cupcake baking time is about 17-18 minutes for two pans.

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup white sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/3 cups water
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 egg whites

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour an 11x13 inch cake pan.
2. Stir together the white cake mix, flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl until well mixed. Pour in the water, sour cream, vegetable oil, almond and vanilla extracts, and egg whites, and beat with an electric mix on low until all the ingredients are mixed and moistened but some lumps still remain, 4 minutes.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, and bake in the preheated oven until the top is a light golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Allow to cool before frosting.

Original recipe from AllRecipes.com