Chocolate Cupcakes with Strawberry Filling: A Decadent Surprise Inside
Discover how to make rich chocolate cupcakes with a hidden surprise: a sweet and tangy strawberry filling! This recipe includes a homemade filling and a simple chocolate ganache.
Ingredients
For the cupcakes
- 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1-1/4 cups sugar
- 1/3 cup baking cocoa
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup hot brewed coffee
STRAWBERRY FILLING:
- 1/2 cup freeze-dried strawberries
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
GANACHE:
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 3 fresh strawberries, optional
Instructions
1. Preheat and Prepare:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients:
- Sift flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt together twice; place in a large bowl.
3. Combine Wet Ingredients:
- In a small bowl, whisk buttermilk, egg, oil and vanilla until smooth.
- Add to flour mixture.
4. Add Coffee and Mix:
- Drizzle in hot coffee, beating until smooth. The batter will be thin.
5. Bake the Cupcakes:
- Fill prepared cups three-fourths full.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 18-20 minutes.
- Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
6. Make the Strawberry Filling:
- Place freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor; process until a fine powder.
- In a large bowl, beat butter until creamy.
- Beat in confectioners’ sugar, cream, vanilla, salt and strawberry powder until smooth.
7. Fill the Cupcakes:
- Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry bag; insert a very small tip.
- Fill with strawberry filling.
- Push the tip through the bottom of paper liner to fill each cupcake.
8. Make the Ganache:
- Place chocolate chips in a small bowl.
- In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil.
- Pour over chocolate; let stand 2 minutes.
- Stir with a whisk until smooth.
9. Frost and Garnish:
- Dip tops of cupcakes in ganache, let stand until set.
- If desired, garnish tops with slices of fresh strawberries.