Samoa Cupcake

It's that time of the year again when those Girls Scouts are out and about selling those wicked cookies.  My favorite are the Samoas.  A shortbread cookie, dipped in chocolate, topped with coconut caramel and chocolate drizzle.  So...I made Samoa cupcakes.  Woo-Hoo!

For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes:  The Shortbread Cake
Frostings: Salted Carmel Frosting
Toppings:  Dark Chocolate Ganache, Caramel Sauce, Toasted Coconut

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cupcake

Amazing!  What a treat!  Dark chocolate cupcake yumminess with something extra: dark chocolate morsels.  A liberal helping of peppermint cream cheese frosting drizzled with chocolate ganache and sprinkled with crushed peppermint candies.  Of note, I keep the cupcakes in a plastic bin in the fridge, and after an overnight, the peppermint candy crumbles melted and created a gooey peppermint glaze.  Yum!

For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes: The Brooklyn Blackout cake
Frostings: Peppermint Cream Cheese frosting
Toppings: Chocolate Ganche, Peppermint Candy crumbles

Chocolate Orange Cupcake

This cupcake combines the delicious flavors of chocolate and orange.  The cake is a blend of both flavors, and is then filled with a generous portion of chocolate icing.  The frosting is a swirl of chocolate cream cheese and orange cream cheese.  The combination is a gooey mouth watering dessert that pairs well with a bold coffee.


For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes: The Chocolate Orange Cake
Filling: Chocolate Filling
Frostings: Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting and Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

Chocolate Snack Cake

A homemade spin on the classic brand name cupcake.  These chocolate cupcakes are filled with love, frosted with a layer of chocolate ganache, and decorated with vanilla icing swirls.  Good anytime of the day or night, they pair well with coffee.

For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes: The Snack Cake (includes filling recipe)
Toppings: Chocolate Ganache, Snack Cake Filling or Icing

Lime Coconut Cupcake

Perfect for the hot sweltering summer months, this cupcake combines the tartness of lime with the sweetness of coconut.  The agave nectar add a subtle sweetness to this surprisingly tasty gluten free treat.  Almost like being on a tropical island with a drink...almost.

For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes: Coconut Flour Cake
Frostings: Lime Coconut Frosting
Toppings: Coconut

Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcake

This was a fun cupcake to make.  It combines the spongy moistness of the White Chocolate cake with a swirl of fresh strawberry preserves.  The frosting is a mix of cream cheese with more strawberry preserves, to give the this cupcake a spongy gooey sticky yumminess reminiscent of strawberry cheesecake.  A fresh strawberry tops it all off.

For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes: White Chocolate Strawberry cake
Frostings: Strawberry Cream Cheese frosting
Toppings:  Strawberries

Ecuadorian Hot Chocolate Cupcake with Vanilla and Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Inspired from an Ecuadorian hot chocolate drink recipe.  This cupcake combines the sweet taste of milk chocolate along with the bittersweet taste of dark chocolate and cinnamon.  The fusion of chocolate and cream cheese add a rich flavor to this tasty morsel.  Best served with espresso or a cup of black coffee.

For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes: The Ecuadorian Hot Chocolate Cake
Frostings: Chocolate Buttercream, and Vanilla Buttercream Frostings

Chocolate Raspberry Blackout Cupcakes with Ganache Frosting

Wicked, evil, fun is one way to describe these addictive treats.  The chocolate cake is made with Dutch cocoa powder and infused with raspberry preserves and white chocolate pieces.  The cake is moist, rich, chocolatey and tart.  The ganache frosting is topped with a spoon full of raspberry preserves, a fresh raspberry, and a chocolate ganache drizzle.  Perfect anytime of the day, and pairs quite well with coffee, white or red wine.

  For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes: Chocolate Raspberry Blackout Cake
Frostings: Chocolate Ganache Frosting
Toppings:  Chocolate Ganache (see Chocolate Ganache Frosting), Fresh Raspberries

Brooklyn Blackout Cupcake with Chocolate Fudge Frosting

The original Blackout Cake was made by Ebinger's Bakery, which opened its doors on Flatbush Avenue in 1898.  Unfortunately financial instability ultimately caused the bakery to go bankrupt, and in 1972 Ebinger's and their famous Blackout Cake went away.  Since then, others have tried to market their own versions of the cake, often using cake mixes and pudding mixes as part of their ingredients.  None of these seems to have recaptured the magic of the original Blackout Cake.  Look for recipes that speak to these cupcakes being made entirely from scratch.  This recipe creates a dark chocolate cupcake, filled with chocolate pudding, with a helping of chocolate fudge frosting and a sprinkling of cupcake crumbs on top.  Be warned, you might need a fork to tackle this messy chocolatey fantasy.  Take it up another notch and add a dollop of homemade whipping cream on top.

 For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes: The Brooklyn Blackout Cake
Fillings:  Chocolate Pudding
Frostings: Chocolate Fudge Frosting

Pumpkin Spice Cupcake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday!  The pumpkin cupcake is infused with the spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.  As an added treat, the cake has a generous portion of dark chocolate morsels hidden within.  The higher the cocoa percentage, the better.  The delicious cinnamon cream cheese frosting finishes off this yummy treat.  Perfect with a shot of espresso, or an almond liquor.

The Unnamable Cupcake

This flourless chocolate cupcake is pure mischief, or evil.  White chocolate pieces are hidden within, and add a creamy richness to this cupcake experience.  The dark chocolate buttercream frosting pairs well with this dense and heavy cupcake.  Perfect for Halloween, and served with either coffee or a liquor.

For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes:  The Chocolate White Chocolate Cake
Frostings:  Dark Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Toppings:  Mellow Cream Pumpkins

Dark Chocolate Orange Marble Cupcake

This cupcake is dense, heavy, rich and tangy delight.  The cream cheese is infused with bittersweet chocolate pieces, with a hint of orange, surrounded by a dark chocolate cake.  The dark chocolate cream cheese frosting is infused with orange flavor, which brings a bittersweet tang to the cupcake.  Perfect for a chocolate orange experience, and just in time for Halloween.

For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes: Chocolate Orange Marble Cake
Frosting: Dark Chocolate Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

Triple Chocolate Cupcake

The dark chocolate cake is dense and moist with the addition of milk chocolate pieces in the batter.  The cream cheese frosting is infused with the rich sweetness of white chocolate.  Chocolate sprinkles top off this wicked cupcake delight.  Enjoy with a cup of dark roast coffee for a mouth watering experience.

For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes:  The Dark Milk Chocolate Cake
Frostings:  White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
Toppings:  Chocolate Sprinkles

White Chocolate Coconut Cupcake

The cake is moist with the sweetness of white chocolate chips melted into the batter.  The frosting has the tang of cream cheese, coupled with the rich sweetness of melted white chocolate.  A coconut topping finishes off this tasty treat.  A light cake, and yet rich in flavor.  Perfect for the summer.

For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes:  The White Chocolate Cake
Frostings:  White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
Toppings:  Coconut

Chocolate Lemon Curd Cupcake

This was a fun cupcake by mixing and matching recipes already posted here.  When making the dark chocolate cake, you can delete the cocoa chocolate bars as they are only used as an extra topping for another recipe combination.  Or, you can keep the cocoa chocolate bars, and eat them while you make this cupcake.  Which ever way gives you inspiration.

Drop a tablespoon of batter into the cupcake liner, then a tablespoon of lemon curd, and topped off with another tablespoon of batter.  Bake between 20 - 22 minutes.  The cupcakes might overflow, and if they do, then as soon as you remove them from the oven use a knife and scrape the still hot cakey goodness back onto the top of the cupcakes.

After I finished frosting the cupcakes, I drizzled extra lemon curd on top and then sprinkled extra lemon zest over them.

The finished cupcake is heavy, moist, gooey, with a surprising delicious chocolate-lemon flavor.

For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes:  The Dark Chocolate cake
Fillings: Lemon Curd
Frostings:  Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
Toppings:  Lemon Curd

Flourless Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cupcake with Peanut Butter Marshmallow Frosting and Milk Chocolate Glaze

The flourless chocolate peanut butter chip cake is dense and fudgy.  It brings together the delightful flavors of chocolate and peanut butter.  The peanut butter marshmallow frosting is light and fluffy in texture with a creamy peanut butter taste.  A milk chocolate dipped glaze is a wonderful touch that enhances this yummy cupcake experience.  This cupcake pairs well with an afternoon espresso.

For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes:  The Flourless Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip cake
Frostings:  Peanut Butter Marshmallow Frosting
Toppings:  Milk Chocolate Glaze

Guinness Cupcakes with Bailey's Buttercream Frosting

Booze and cupcakes!

The chocolate cupcake is made with Guinness Stout, and then filled with a chocolate Whiskey ganache.  Bailey's Irish cream is mixed into the buttercream frosting.  A drizzle of chocolate Whiskey ganache adds the final touch to this amazing cupcake.  Try this cupcake with a cup of dark coffee, or perhaps with a Guinness, or a shot of Whiskey, or a shot of Bailey's.


For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes:  The Guinness Cake
Fillings:  Whiskey Ganache
Frostings:  Bailey's Buttercream Frosting
Toppings:  Whiskey Ganache

Flourless Chocolate Cupcake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

The flourless chocolate cupcake is rich and dense in flavor.  Try adding a complimentary liquor to the batter for a unique taste experience.  The chocolate cream cheese frosting is smooth and almost melts in your mouth.  Experiment with cherries, strawberries, or other fruit toppings to take this cupcake up to a new level of taste.  This cupcake is a perfect match with an afternoon espresso, and is a great taste delight for Valentines day.

For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes:  The Flourless Chocolate Cake
Frostings:  Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
Topping:  Dark Cherries

Gingerbread Cupcake with Cinnamon Brown Sugar Buttercream Frosting

This cupcake was a surprise hit over the holidays.  The cupcake was moist with the wonderful spicy flavor of gingerbread.  The frosting had a creamy cinnamon brown sugar taste.  The brown sugar added a slight texture and hint of sparkle to the frosting.  This cupcake was perfect for breakfast in addition to an after dinner dessert.

For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes:  The Gingerbread Cake
Frostings:  Cinnamon Brown Sugar Buttercream

Hot Chocolate Cupcake with Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting

Chocolatey.  Pepperminty.  Gooey.  Wicked!

This naughty cupcake combines the tastes of hot chocolate and cool peppermint.  The cake is rich and moist, with melted chocolate chips inside.   The frosting has the crisp taste of peppermint, along with the tangy flavor of cream cheese.  Together, these flavors mix well to create a festive holiday treat that pairs well with a hot cup of coffee, or a hot mug of cocoa.

For recipes, click on the tags to the right:

Little Cakes:  The Hot Chocolate Cake
Frostings:  Peppermint Cream Cheese