Fauxstess Cupcakes

Fauxstess Cupcakes

Ingredients:

cupcake ingredients:
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsaled butter
1-3/4 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups cake flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate milk

filling ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
2 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 Tablespoons heavy cream

ganache ingredients:
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prep a cupcake pan with liners.

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla.

Alternately add the milk with the dry ingredients until combined.

Spoon the batter into prepped liners, bake 15-17 minutes depending on your oven. Let cool on a wire rack.

While the cupcakes are cooling, start the filling. In the bowl of an electric mixer on low, combine the butter and the sugar. Add the vanilla and the heavy cream. Beat on high for 15 seconds until nice and fluffy.

Once the cupcakes are cooled add the filling. There will be leftover filling, this will be used later for piping the swirls.

To make the ganache, in a saucepan over low-medium heat add the chocolate chips, heavy cream and vanilla. Watch carefully and when it starts to melt, start stirring. Keep on stirring until it magically turns into a glossy beautiful ganache. Let cool slightly.

Spoon the ganache over the tops of the filled cupcakes and let set.

To complete the look, place the cream filling in a piping bag with a #5 tip and pipe swirls over the top of the cupcake. A ‘real’ Hostess cupcake has 8 swirls but go with what you like or personalize it!