little morsels for me

I made these two days before Valentine’s Day.  I’m writing about them two days after Valentine’s Day.  I am not even going to pretend these are Valentine cupcakes in case you should think me premature or even, heaven forbid, tardy.  No, these were little cupcakes for a Saturday.  The heart-shaped rose petals are a mere coincidence, falling obligingly off the bud for me.  I did not pretend these were made for my sweetheart.  He is not the adorer of chocolate and coffee.  No, these were made for me. 

Last minute baking thoughts usually mean I haven’t taken the eggs or butter out of the fridge to wallow on the bench until they’ve finally reached room temperature.  Morning tea becomes a loss known as mourning tea.  After which it becomes afternoon tea if I’ve not already gotten over the whole idea of baking altogether.  But these, let me tell you, are fuss-free and fast.

The recipe is adapted from Cupcake Heaven by Susannah Blake.  It’s part of the Cupcakes for Special Diets chapter but don’t let that put you off – these are chocolate and coffee little wonders.  No butter – doesn’t that sound good? 

Cupcakes are a dainty bite of a big cake – all that taste in a little morsel.  Just remember to stop at one…..

I used fresh coffee in place of the instant coffee – if you’ve read my last post, you’ll know why.  I made an espresso and let it cool.  I used rice bran oil instead of sunflower.  I added more icing sugar to the frosting, as I wanted it to look thick in the photograph.  I suggest you follow the recipe for the topping as my thicker version set really fast. 

I’ve found that the recipes that I have used in this book have made less than stated so you may have to adjust the quantity.  They last well too – maybe…..

DARK CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

115g plain flour

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

3 tbsp cocoa powder

115g caster sugar

3 tbsp rice bran oil (or similar)

2 tsp espresso coffee

1½ tsp white wine vinegar

(The idea of putting vinegar in the batter may seem strange but it works.) 

ICING

2 tbsp rice bran oil

1½ tbsp cocoa powder

2 tbsp espresso coffee

150g icing sugar, sifted

(I used more to make icing thicker)

 Preheat oven to 180°C (35O°F) Gas 4.  Line cupcake/muffin tin with paper cases.

Combine flour, bicarbonate of soda, cocoa powder and sugar and sift into a bowl.  Make a well in the centre.  Pour in 125ml water, the oil, coffee and vinegar and stir.

Spoon mixture into paper cases (about half to just over half-full should give you the required gently rounded cupcake) and bake for about 15 minutes until risen and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.  Cool on a wire rack.

  

For the icing: Place the oil, cocoa powder and coffee in a heatproof bowl placed over a pan of just simmering water (don’t let bowl touch the water or let water get into the bowl) and stir.  Gradually pour in the icing sugar and stir for 2 minutes until thick and glossy.  Add about ½ tsp more water to thin slightly.  Stir for 1 minute and spoon over cupcakes.

Bill and Photoshop have been meddling.  So here's a cupcake for Dracula – all dark and dangerous with a blood-red heart.  Wickedly good!