Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes

Valentine’s day is right around the corner, and I wanted to make some festive cupcakes for my coworkers.  I ended up making dark chocolate cupcakes with a raspberry compote filling, pink vanilla buttercream, and pink and red sprinkles. I used my favorite chocolate cupcake recipe, which is inspired by one of my favorite baking blogs, the Brown Eyed Baker.

• 4 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup hot water
• 1 tsp. instant espresso powder
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Raspberry Compote Filling

• 1 bag frozen raspberries (2 cups)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Pink Vanilla Buttercream

• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 2 sticks of butter, room temperature (1 cup)
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 heavy cream
• 1 squirt of pink gel food coloring

Yield: 14 Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a standard-size muffin pan with liners. Place the chocolate pieces and cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Pour the hot coffee over the mixture and whisk until smooth. Refrigerate mixture for 10 minutes, until it has cooled to room temperature.

Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl; set aside. Whisk the oil, eggs, vinegar and vanilla extract into the cooled chocolate mixture until smooth. Add the flour mixture and whisk until smooth. Divide the batter evenly between the muffin pan cups. Place one slightly rounded teaspoon of ganache filling on top of each cupcake. Bake until the cupcakes are set and just firm to the touch, about 12-14 minutes. Cool the cupcakes in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove the cupcakes from the pan and place on the wire rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.

While the cupcakes bake, prepare the raspberry compote. Heat a saucepan to medium heat, and cook down the raspberries, sugar, and lemon juice for about 10 minutes. Stir in the cornstarch, and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and let cool.

Next, prepare the frosting. Beat the butter and salt on high using a hand mixer or KitchenAid, until the butter is light and fluffy. Slowly add in the powdered sugar over several installments, alternating with splashes of cream. Mix in the vanilla and salt, and mix on high until all ingredients are fully incorporated, and the frosting is light and fluffy. Add in the gel food coloring, and mix until the frosting is an even color.

Once the cupcakes are fully cooled, cut out the centers, and fill them with a rounded tablespoon of the cooled raspberry compote. Sprinkle red and pink nonpareils over the cupcakes, then frost a swirl onto the cupcakes using a open star tip, and add a heart sprinkle to the top of each cupcake.

I frosted some of the cupcakes with a heart, instead of a swirl. I also made mini and regular sized cupcakes. The mini’s bake for about 11 minutes. I really liked the way both cupcakes looked, and I think my coworkers did too 🙂