Chocolate Brownies

Chocolate Brownies

It has been about two weeks since my last blog post. I have been pretty busy with everything lately from coaching lacrosse, school, and my boyfriend just recently graduated college! This weekend (Memorial Day Weekend) is also going to be pretty busy so that's why this weeks recipe is super simple, but can be a sweet treat to bring on a picnic or family get together for this busy weekend! So after this weekend it will be back to baking and more complicated recipes! 

Yields: About 12 brownies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions for Brownies:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x9 inch baking pan.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, and vanilla. 
3. In a separate bowl combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt; gradually stir into the egg mixture until well blended. Stir in walnuts, if desired.
   
4. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
5. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the brownie begins to pull away from edges of pan. Let cool on a wire rack before cutting into squares.

Chocolate Cupcakes

Chocolate Cupcakes

Who doesn't like chocolate and chocolate buttercream?! These cupcakes are soft and melt right in your mouth! You can make cute little candies to go with them like I did. These are super sweet and taste amazing. I made these for a party for for Iron Man 3. (It was an amazing movie!) These were gone within the hours they were so good! They are pretty easy and quick to make if you have the time. 

Yields: 12 regular sized cupcakes

Ingredients:

For the Cupcakes:

1 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 large egg, room temperature

1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature

1/4 cup canola oil

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup boiling water

For the Chocolate Buttercream:

2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons heavy cream

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted

2 tablespoons chocolate sprinkles

Ingredients for cupcakes

Directions for Cupcakes:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease muffin tin or line with muffin liners.
2. In a large bowl, mix together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. Crack in the egg spoon in the sour cream, and pour in the oil and the vanilla, Mix with wooden spoon until just combined. 
4. Pour in the boiling water, and slowly mix until smooth.
   
5. Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups, about halfway full. Transfer muffin tin to oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer muffin tin to a wire rack and let cupcakes cool completely
   
   
   
   
   

Directions for Frosting:

1. Beat butter for a few minutes in a standing mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed.
2. Add powdered sugar and turn and mixer on low, beat until the sugar incorporates with the butter.
3. Add vanilla, heavy cream and cocoa powder, beat on medium speed for another 3 minutes, or until buttercream becomes light and fluffy.
4. Frost the cupcakes with the buttercream and garnish with chocolate sprinkles.
   

These cupcakes turn out great! I made these for a party so I had to double the recipe which is super easy to do. I do need to work on my frosting skills but I had a lot of fun making these. Cupcakes are always fun to make. Instead of using sprinkles I made white chocolate candies with a candy mold I bought. It was definitely a tedious thing to do but it will make your cupcakes look cute! 

Enjoy!

Source:http://ohsweetday.com/2013/03/my-best-chocolate-cupcake.html