So, what do you do when you’re snowed in? Yes, I’m referring to last week, on Wednesday when the snow was coming down like crazy. I had plenty to do, but I needed wanted cake, cupcakes to be exact. Growing up, my favorite cake was yellow cake (from a box) and chocolate frosting (from a can)…super ambitious I know. So every now and then I kinda sorta really want to have yellow cake (from a box) and chocolate frosting (from a can). On this snowy day, there was no boxes of cake mix or cans of frosting in my pantry.
After scrounging up a basic yellow cupcake recipe – the fantastic part was that it only made 12, the perfect amount for a non-celebration kind of day – I didn’t have what I needed for a chocolate ganache. My next search was for simple chocolate frosting, Rachael Ray came through for me and one taste of this frosting took me back to the days of the frosting from a can. You know how it has a certain tang to it? This frosting has that same tang and I’m totally in love (a love that rivals my love for this Nutella Cloud Frosting). Sometimes it’s so refreshing to enjoy things like basic yellow cake with simple chocolate frosting…sprinkles not optional.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups FLOUR
- 1 cup SUGAR
- 1 1/2 teaspoons BAKING POWDER
- 1/2 teaspoon SALT
- 1/2 cup UNSALTED BUTTER, softened
- 1/2 cup SOUR CREAM
- 1 EGG plus 2 EGG YOLKS, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 teaspoons VANILLA EXTRACT
- 4 oz. CREAM CHEESE, softened
- 1/2 cup BUTTER, room temperature
- 2 cups POWDERED SUGAR
- 1/3 cup COCOA POWDER
- 1 teaspoon VANILLA EXTRACT
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° and line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add in butter, sour cream, eggs, yolks and vanilla extract. Beat a medium speed for about a minute until smooth, using a rubber spatula scrape down the sides of the bowl and stir until no flour remains.
- Evenly divide the batter among the cupcake papers. Bake for 20-24 minutes or until a toothpick tests clean. Remove from pan and allow to cool completely before frosting.
- Beat together cream cheese and butter on medium speed until smooth. On low speed, gradually add powdered sugar and cocoa powder until blended. Add vanilla and beat on med-high speed until smooth and fluffy.
- Frost as desired.
Recipe Source: for cupcakes – Baking Illustrated Cookbook
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These look so good. My best friend’s favorite cake is yellow cake with chocolate icing. These will be her birthday cake this year! Thanks for sharing.
We’re having a party – What’d You Do This Weekend? I’d love it if your would bring these over. http://www.tumbleweedcontessa.com/blog/whatd-you-do-this-weekend-6/
Thanks, Linda
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Becca thank you for this recipe!! I need a good scratch cupcake. And I love the photos – stunning – and the one with the plate is so cool!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted..Baileys Irish Creamer Cheesecake Pie
Well, now I am craving cupcakes 🙂 Love this easy scratch recipe…glad it only makes 12 because I’m sure I would eat way too many!!!
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life recently posted..Banana Cream Fudge
Such a delicious classic! Yellow cake w/ chocolate frosting is always my request for my birthday cake
Mal @ The Chic Geek recently posted..Happy Pi Day!
Nice photo, and the cupcakes look delish. Everyone needs a good basic cake recipe. Nice post andi
andi winslow recently posted..RAINBOW COOKIES
There’s always something special about basic cupcakes. They are so good! Pinned! Thanks so much for linking up to Two Cup Tuesday at Pint Sized Baker. I look forward to coming back on Monday Night!
Karyn – Pint Sized Baker recently posted..Eggs, Sunny Side Up!
Those look just like the cupcakes my mom used to make! There’s nothing nicer than a frosted cupcake and a big, steaming mug of hot chocolate. Can’t wait to try out this recipe.
Shaun Hoobler recently posted..Spiritual Recovery From Narcissistic Abuse