Chocolate Cupcakes w/Buttercream Frosting (with recipe)

Today is National Cupcake Lovers Day!  In honor of this, Thing #5 was happy to make some cupcakes for the blog last night!  That girl loves to bake!

We used a cake recipe turned cupcake recipe I loved from one of the kids' birthdays and a frosting recipe we downloaded in an e-book from a blog I discovered.  Thing #5 is going to be gaining a LOT of baking insight from them in the future.  Pretty sure they're her soulmates.

Do make sure you have enough time to make these, don't rush it.  Very important to let cupcakes cool completely before putting your frosting on .... but you all know this, right?  You don't need details on how to make a cupcake.

Here are your recipes for cupcakes and homemade buttercream frosting!  On National Cupcake Lovers Day, calories don't count!

CUPCAKES

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspooon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder (can't find it?  Here are some alternatives)
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup boiling water

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees
• Place cupcake liners in muffin tin
• Add flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt and espresso powder to a large bowl, whisk or stir with a fork to combine.
• Add milk, oil, egg and vanilla to flour mixture and mix together on medium speed until well combined.
• Reduce speed and carefully add boiling water to the cake batter, Beat on high speed for about 1 minute to add air to the batter.
• Evenly distribute cake batter to your cupcake liners - start with 1/2 full and keep distributing until batter is gone
• Place in the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting

BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:

Ingredients:

• 4 cups Organic Powdered Sugar 
• 1 cup (2 sticks) Organic Butter
• 2-3 teaspoons of Vanilla (we used 3)
• 1-2 tablespoons Milk

Directions:

• Add powdered sugar to mixing bowl with softened sticks of butter, vanilla and 1 tbsp. of milk
• Beat on low until powdered sugar is incorporated.
• Move mixer up to medium-high speed, scrape sides and bottom of bowl often.
• When completely mixed the frosting may appear dry



First try at piping frosting!  She
did a great job!

• Add milk in small amounts at a time until frosting is the consistency you're looking for.

Thing #5 was gifted with her first beginner's frosting piping tips and bags last night and after watching a tutorial on YouTube, she tried her hand at making pretty swirls!  You can just as easily pile on your frosting with a butter knife as we've all done for years.  Either way - these are hands down the BEST chocolate cupcakes with the most amazing frosting .... Happy Cupcake Lovers Day!!!!