Chocolate Velvet Cupcakes

Chocolate Velvet Cupcakes

Top these cupcakes with Browned Butter-Cinnamon-Cream Cheese Frosting and you have one decadent dessert!  If you have not made browned butter, this is the recipe to try it on.
Plan Ahead Note: the butter and cream cheese need to be softened to room temperature.
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Course Dessert
Servings 3 dozen

Ingredients
  

Cupcakes

  • 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate morsels
  • ½ cup butter softened
  • 1 16 oz. pkg. light brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 8 oz. container sour cream
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Frosting

  • ¼ cup butter
  • 1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
  • 1 16 oz. pkg. powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

Cupcakes

  • Preheat oven to 350°.               
  • Microwave morsels in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH for 1-1 ½ minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30 second intervals.
  • Beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until well blended (about 5 minutes.)
  • Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.
  • Add melted chocolate and beat until blended.
  • Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt.
  • Gradually add flour mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition.
  • Gradually add hot water in a slow, steady stream, beating at low speed just until blended.  Stir in vanilla.
  • Place paper baking cups in muffin pans, and fill ¾" full.
  • Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into center of cupcake comes out clean.  Remove from pans to wire racks and let cool completely.  Frost cupcakes.

Frosting

  • Cook butter in a small, heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, 6-8 minutes or until butter begins to turn golden brown.  Immediately remove from heat.  
  • Pour butter into a bowl.  Cover and chill 1 hour or until butter is cool and begins to solidify.
  • Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add powdered sugar beating until light and fluffy.  Stir in ground cinnamon and vanilla.

Notes

Recipe from Southern Living Magazine.