Chocolate Cupcakes

Another improvised recipe today. Starting with a basic cake recipe, I replaced some of the flour with cocoa powder. I was making pudding so only made 4 and the quantities of cake mixture and butter icing were pretty much perfect but 6 squares of chocolate was too much to make the chocolate decorations (3-4 squares would probably be about right).

 I cheated a little with the chocolate and melted it in microwave, then put it in an icing bag with a small, round nozzle and piped various shapes onto a piece of baking parchment... then cheated again by cooling them in the fridge. Melting the chocolate in the microwave didn't make much of a difference but cooling them too quickly did take the shine off the chocolate. Slightly annoying but not a huge issue if you're a little short on time. Don't be put off if you think you can't draw, I can't either and the messy/rustic look works pretty well! However, I wouldn't recommend spirals or similar shapes because they're not strong enough structures to stand up with out breaking. Even some of the hearts were a little precarious!

After making the butter icing, I put about a third of it into a piping bag, then added a little cocoa powder to the remainder (turned out the right proportions of each).  

I'm really pleased with how these have turned out! I've never tried to make things with chocolate before and I think they look pretty good (and yes, they taste nice too!) I don't usually write out recipes but this was semi-made up so thought I'd include it today.

Recipe (makes 4):

• 2oz caster sugar
• 2oz butter
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 oz self raising flour
• 1oz cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp baking powder

Butter icing and decoration:

• 2oz icing sugar
• 1oz butter
• 1/4 tbsp cocoa powder
• 4 squares dark chocolate

(Baked at 170 for 15-20 minutes)