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When I made saffron cupcakes, I commented that Groom 2.0 really just wanted a plain chocolate cupcake. Those of you that read the comments saw that he was quick to correct me,
"I don't want a 'plain chocolate cupcake'. I want a phenomenal, rich, delectable, 'better than sex' chocolate cupcake. Milk chocolate? White chocolate? Dark chocolate? All of the the above. Not EVERY cupcake needs to
have an unusual flavor or a quirky ingredient. There's no reason that traditional has to mean boring. If I wanted a boring chocolate cupcake, I'd got to the store and buy a box mix and do it myself. I want the Cupcake
Project version."
I couldn't help but to see his point. I had to create a Better than Sex Cupcake that lived up to his hopes.
The Five Chocolate Parts of the Better Than Sex Cupcakes
I created cupcakes that have five different chocolate components:
- Chocolate cupcake recipe by Chockylit. On their own, these may be the best chocolate cupcakes you've ever had.
- Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips mixed into the recipe.
- Rich, decedent chocolate mousse filling.
- Dark chocolate ganache made with 67 percent Patric chocolate.
- White chocolate drizzle.
Were the Better Than Sex Cupcakes Better than Sex?
I offer you selected quotes from three tasters:
"Sex, what's that?"
"Mmmmmmm... chocolate"
"It could be better that sex. I'll have to go home and compare." (I never got a report from this taster on which was better. I can only assume the cupcakes were better and the taster didn't want to embarrass his lover.)
What about Bride 2.0?
It turns out these cupcakes were too rich for Bride 2.0. Groom 2.0 tried to explain that his ideal is a cupcake so rich that it is hard to finish. However, apparently he didn't sell her on it. I'll let them fight that one out.
Better Than Sex Cupcake Recipe Parts 1 and 2 - The Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Chips
The chocolate cake recipe came from Chockylit's cupcake blog. I am reprinting it below with my added step of mixing in chocolate chips. Chockylit points out that this recipe will make flat cupcakes, not domed ones. Do not try to overfill your cupcake liner. She recommend filling it 2/3 full. I changed the recipe to reflect the fact that I only filled mine about 1/2 way.
Makes 16 regular cupcakes.
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature
- 1-1/4 cups sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoons vanilla
- 2/3 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Beat butter until softened. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until well combined. Measure the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder into a small sized bowl and whisk to combine. Measure out the milk and vanilla and stir to combine. Add about a third of the dry ingredients to the butter/sugar and beat to combine. Add about a half of the milk/vanilla and beat to combine. Continue adding, alternating between dry and wet and finishing with the dry. Stir in chocolate chips. Scoop batter into cupcake cups about 1/2 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 22-25 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
Better Than Sex Cupcake Recipe Part 3 - The Chocolate Mousse Filling
You can fill these cupcakes with any chocolate mousse recipe you like. I strongly recommend trying a homemade chocolate mousse.
To fill the cupcakes, use a small paring knife to cut a cone into the cupcake. Spoon or pipe (I found piping to be easier) chocolate mousse into the hole. Replace the top. Don't worry if the top of the cupcake doesn't look pretty any more, you are going to frost over it so no one will know the difference.
Better Than Sex Cupcake Recipe Part 4 - The Dark Chocolate Ganache
I told you I would be making something with my amazing Patric chocolate. Here it is!
- 3.5 oz of dark chocolate broken into small pieces (I used Patric chocolate)
- 1/3 C heavy cream
Place the chocolate in a small glass bowl. Heat the cream in a small saucepan until it just starts to boil. Pour the cream over the chocolate and stir until all the chocolate is melted and integrated with the cream. While it is still warm, spread a thin layer of it over the cupcakes. It will harden when it cools.
FYI: Tempered Woman also had some quality chocolate (Amano's Ocumare) that she was saving for a special occasion. She used it in Chocolate Kahlua - Hazelnut Tartlettes. She's been waiting so patiently to see what I used mine in that I had to give her some link love.
Better Than Sex Cupcake Recipe Part 5 - The White Chocolate Drizzle
White chocolate drizzle is so pretty and professional looking, and it is so easy to do.
Melt 2 ounces of white chocolate. You can do this on the stove, but I find it easier to do in the microwave. I do it for 20 seconds at a time. Stir after each round. When it is all melted, you are done. It should take about a minute.
Pour the melted chocolate into a plastic sandwich bag or a disposable pastry bag. Cut a very small hole at the tip of the bag and draw whatever kind of funky pattern you want onto your cupcakes!
43 comments:
sexy and sinful. Nothing could be better. :)
Holy schnikes! Those look flippin' awesome. Fantastic job!
Wow - these sound AMAZING!
CB - True dat!
Michelle - Thanks! They were flippin awesome!
Deborah - Thanks! I like your profile pic, btw. It's cute.
just...whoa. i don't know if i could a whole one either, but i am certainly willing to try.
maybe you could have sex first to work up an appetite, and *then* eat the cupcake. best of both worlds!
Love the cupcake! And love the new look of the page.
Those look like they'd be my favorite out of the whole lot. Nothing is too rich for me -- if you ever need a taste tester or would like to try cooking in someone else's kitchen (mine), let me know.
one lovely cupcake. uhmmm...never compared food with sex though hehehe... thanks for participating on CS 2008!! ~ab.
ooooooh, they look so indulgent.
Michelle @ US - Now there's an idea. :)
Minko - Thanks! Glad you stopped by!
Susan - Hah! I'm happy with my own kitchen. You are welcome to taste though. Trades are accepted.
Arfi - Thanks! I was excited to participate.
Gigi - Indeed. Definitely a good special occasion cupcake.
I couldn't get past the word saffron. . . oh, so good. . .oh, so expensive. . .
These look GOOD. I have yet to make a mousse of any kind (they kinda scare me) but this scrumtiousity gives me more courage!
Whatever happened to the "filled cupcakes are cheating!!!" stance?? I quite like the change. ;)
Sound delicious and wonderful. Can't wait to try some. :)
Rebecca - Apparently it's cheapish at Trader Joe's. I haven't been in to verify yet though.
Ley - Did I say that? A girl has a right to change her mind. :)
Tojosan - You know I typically don't make anything twice unless it's selected for a wedding. Maybe I'd make an exception though. These were GOOD.
These look heavenly!! The mousse in the center is a decadent surprise! Luscious!
Cupcakery - Thanks! I love the word luscious. It's such a sensual word. It makes you want to lick your lips.
Better than sex? Depends on who you're having sex with : )
I was lucky enough to sample this cupcake last night, and it was amazing ... the chocolate cake was delicious, the chocolate mousse was divine, the chocolate ganache was decadent ... all combined, it was out of this world.
Excellent job, Stef!
P.S. This may take the lead as my favorite Cupcake Project cupcake ... but the Eggnog Latte Christmas Cupcake is still up there!
Having tasted this cupcake and enjoyed "business time," I can say that though close in some respects, sex always wins out. Sorry. Thanks for the veiled shout out in the post.
Thanks for the linky love goofball! So could you tell the difference with the ganache? I think the chocolate really does make a difference when it's intense like this.
I personally think this cupcake is the perfect alternative to a groom's cake which is typically chocolate. And it's exactly what the groom asked for! It's a tuxedo cupcake~ Seems like pure genius to me~
Kimberly - Glad I got to bring some over. Thanks again for the cupcake tower!
Ran - At least it was close.
TW - My husband suggested the whole groom's cake thing as well. It's a great idea! I couldn't tell the difference that much in the ganache. Maybe because it was such a thin layer. I was wishing that I had used it in the mousse, but I didn't have enough.
The concept sounds great....but I'm with you - I don't think I'd be able to eat an entire cupcake!!!
Alanna - Sharing is allowed. In fact, it's more sexy!
True, true. And while the cupcakes might be better than sex for some people, if you share them with your lover...it could always lead to the real thing!
Alanna - My thoughts exactly!
Oh, I HAVE to try these.
Wow! Those sound great! And look great! Nice pictures. J's I assume?
Jaelithe - They are definitely worth the effort. My mom and aunt just tried some out of the freezer and they were in heaven.
Sylvia - Yup.. the pics are J's.
Isa - I'd be so flattered if you made them! You should know that I already submitted them to cupcakes spectacular. However, if you are modifying them a bit, then I see nothing wrong with 2 Better Than Sex Cupcakes!
I'm not a chef. How do I get the filling in? Do I need to hollow out the inside of the cupcake? You said to cut a cone shaped piece out, but if you put it right back in, is there any room for the filling?
Amanada - I wondered the same thing the first time I used this technique. Oddly, the cone usually fits right back in even though you've filled the hole with mousse. Everything kinds squishes in there. If it doesn't fit though, sometimes I cut the tip of the cone off. No one will every see what you have done because you are topping the whole thing with frosting. So in short, just cut a chunk of your cupcake out, fill, and replace the chunk.
Due to time constraints, I want to make these this week, getting patric chocolate isn't going to work. Do you have any common (some what) recommended substitutes?
C - You can use any chocolate you have on hand. I often use Ghirardelli, Callebaut, and Green & Blacks. I prefer dark chocolate, but if you don't, you can use an kind.
I actually tried Chockylit's chocolate cupcake recipe yesterday, but wasn't satisfied with it. For me, it needed something more and after coming across your recipe today I am definitely ready to get back into the kitchen. These cupcakes sound so delicious and I can't want to try the recipe out! I'll leave another comment in a few days about how mine turned out.
Tried it using valrhona cocoa powder. Skipped the mousse & topping. Little bites of heaven. The cake recipe is excellent, moist, good texture. Almost like a lighter brownie. Can't say how well they hold up b/c my batch didn't make it past 12 hours!
I added a small sprinkle of sea salt on top of the ganache. Mmmm...salty and sweet! I think it lives up to it's name a little better this way!
Yikes!! I followed your recipe to the T today and I have never tasted anything so terrible. I hate to be rude but this is awful. First, the mousse is not the least decadent without sugar, it is so bitter. Second, the cupcakes fell making a huge crater when they were done, which by the way, I had to take them out 7 minutes early because they were beyond ruined. Then, to give them the benefit of the doubt my mom and I tried them but they tasted like sand! I was going to make these to take to my coworkers for Valentine's day, but instead I just filled up the trash can.
I'm so sorry that you had such a bad experience with these. As you can see from the other comments, others have definitely enjoyed them. I wish I could have been there to help figure out what went wrong! One of my Twitter friends even made them a few weeks ago and loved them: http://twitter.com/debbieharry/statuses/1165927144 .
i made these in honor of my single valentines day, and let me say, i am very very glad i did! they are fantastic! i changed the recipe a bit though, added whiskey and cut down the milk, and threw in a few pecans. GREAT CUPCAKES!! happy valentines day ;)
love your blog! I'm also in St. Louis. I found it while searching for a chocolatey cupcake to make and bring over to a very sick friend in Springfield who could use some chocolate therapy. I'm sure his review will be glowing!
Oh. My. God.
You are my hero for formulating these. GENIUS!!
May I have permission to post this recipe and link to you on my blog??? I have made these twice now and adore them!!!!
Cathy - Sure! Glad you liked them so much!
This is one of my favorite recipes to make. Last Valentine's Day I was going to make them for my girlfriend...then she dumped me the Monday before.
I made them anyway and forgot I was single.
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