Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and these melt-in-your-mouth cupcakes are sure to soften any heart.
- 2 cups flour
- 1¾ cups sugar
- 1¼ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup water
- ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa
- ⅔ cup vegetable shortening
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Chocolate Buttercream Icing –
- 6 tablespoons butter, room temperature
- 2 cups icing sugar, sifted
- 2 oz.unsweetened chocolate, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ cup milk or cream
- Preheat oven to 350f (180c). Line muffin tins with cupcake liners.
- Mix all cupcake ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Mix at low speed for 2 minutes, scraping sides of the bowl. Increase speed to high and beat 2 more minutes, scraping the side of the bowl as required.
- Spoon batter evenly among cupcake liners to about two-thirds full. Bake 18 to 22 minutes. Remove from oven and cool cupcakes on a wire rack for 10 minutes, and then remove from the tin. Cool on the rack completely.
- To make the icing, combine all ingredients except milk in a large mixer bowl. Beat at low speed until sugar is blended in. Increase to medium speed and gradually add enough milk or cream to make icing to desired consistency.