Chocolate-Strawberry Cupcakes & a GIVEAWAY!

I am SO excited because this is my 100^th post! When I first started blogging this past October I thought it would take me forever to reach 100 posts, but little did I know how addictive blogging can be!

To help me celebrate my 100^th post I’m sharing this yummy Chocolate-Strawberry Cupcake recipe with you *AND* I’m hosting my very first giveaway (see details below)! These cupcakes are super scrumptious and are inspired by chocolate covered strawberries making these cupcakes perfect for Valentines Day!



Chocolate-Strawberry Cupcake on the Left, and the Giveaway on the right!

Chocolate-Strawberry Cupcakes

Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients:

8 T unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
2 ozs bittersweet chocolate, chopped
½ C Dutch-processed cocoa powder
¾ C all-purpose flour
½ t baking soda
¾ t baking powder
2 eggs
¾ C granulated sugar
1 t vanilla extract
½ t table salt
½ C sour cream

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Place butter, chocolate, and cocoa in a heatproof bowl. Set bowl over saucepan with two inches of simmering water.  Gently stir butter and chocolate until melted and combined. Set aside until mixture is warm to touch.

Whisk flour, baking soda, and baking powder in small bowl to combine.

Whisk eggs in second bowl to combine; add sugar, vanilla, and salt until fully incorporated. Add cooled chocolate mixture and whisk until combined. Sift one-third of flour mixture over chocolate mixture and whisk until combined; whisk in sour cream until combined, then sift remaining flour mixture over and whisk until batter is homogeneous and thick.

Fill cupcake line 2/3 full. Bake until skewer inserted into center of cupcakes comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes.

Cool cupcakes to room temperature before icing, about 30 minutes.

Yields 12 cupcakes.

Source: Recipe adapted from Cook’s Illustrated

Strawberry Swiss-Meringue Buttercream

Ingredients:

¾ C diced strawberries

2 egg whites

¾ C sugar

pinch of salt

¾  C (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons, at room temperature

Directions:

Puree the strawberries in a food processor.

Combine the egg whites, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer set over a small pan of simmering water.  Whisk constantly by hand until the sugar has dissolved (the mixture should feel completely smooth when rubbed between your fingertips).

Attach the bowl to the stand mixer and fit with the whisk attachment.  Starting on low speed and gradually increasing to medium-high speed, mix until still (but not dry) peaks form.  Continue mixing until until the mixture is light, fluffy, glossy, and completely cool (test by touching the bottom of the mixing bowl), about 10 minutes.

With the mixer on medium-low speed, add the butter 2 tablespoons at a time, mixing well between each addition.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl, increase the speed to medium, and mix until the buttercream comes together (it can take up to several minutes, but it will come together eventually).  Switch to the paddle attachment and beat at medium-low speed to remove air bubbles, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the strawberry puree, and mix to combine.

Frost cupcakes as desired, and garnish with strawberry slices just before serving.

Makes 2 ½ cups of frosting.

Source: adapted from Martha Stewart, Cupcakes

And now for the giveaway!



I am giving away my favorite product for cupcake decorating, The Best-Ever Cupcake Icing Kit from Bake it Pretty!



Picture courtesy of the Bake it Pretty website.



This kit includes 4 large, and I’m talking large tips measuring about 2” long by 3/4” wide! These you can not find at your everyday craft store. You will get the Round, Star, Closed Star, and French tips along with a 14” pastry bag, and a colorful postcard that gives instructions and helpful cupcake frosting tips. I’ve used this kit to decorate every single cupcake recipe I’ve posted to my site.

Giveaway Details:

Open to US & Canadian residents only, age 18 and over. This giveaway will close on Feb 20th, 2011 at 11:59pm MST.

There are up to 4 ways to enter! Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Make sure each comment includes your e-mail address so I can contact you if you’re the winner!

 

1. Leave a comment below telling me about the best cupcake you’ve ever eaten.  

2. Follow Food Folks and Fun (Past followers count.)

3. “Like” Food Folks and Fun on Facebook.

4. Subscribe to Food Folks and Fun. (Past subscribers count.)

I will choose the winner through random.org and will post and contact the winner on Monday, February 21^st. 
If you have any questions, please contact me rather than leave a comment!

Good Luck Everyone and Thank You!