The following months are sure to bring plenty of gatherings, from Halloween to Christmas, sweet chocolate is a classic flavor that travels from holiday to holiday. Cupcakes are a classic dessert that is sure to please any crowd, child or adult alike. Ghirardelli is known for their sweet confections so to have that same decadence translated into a sweet cocoa cooking powder, will impress even the pickiest of taste buds. This Ghirardelli Chocolate Cupcake recipe adds an extra level of luxury and chocolate-filled richness to this sweet treat.

Ingredients for Cupcakes

• 1 cup Cake flour
• Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate & Cocoa
• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 tsp. Baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. Salt
• 1 1/2 cup Buttermilk
• 1 cup butter (softened)
• 4 Eggs
• 2 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

Ingredients for Frosting

• 8 Egg yolks
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
• 11 oz.  Melting Chocolate (Dark)
• 1/2 cup Butter
• 1 cup Butter (softened)

Directions for Cupcakes

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F
2. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners
3. In a large mixing bowl combine dry ingredients together
4. Add 1 1/2 cup of buttermilk and butter slowly. Beat on medium for 2 minutes
5. Add remaining 1/2 cup of buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Beat an additional 2 minutes
6. Pour batter into cupcakes liners, filling halfway
7. Bake until cake springs back to touch. Set aside to cool.

Directions for Frosting

1. Combine egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla
2. Heat over simmering water and beat until 183°F
3. Remove from heat and plate in making bowl and beat until cool and tripled in volume
4. Combine chocolate with 1/2 cup butter and melt
5. Add the melted chocolate-butter mixture to the egg fixture
6. Add in the remaining 1 cup of softened butter and whip till ready to use
7. Pipe onto cupcakes and dust with Sweet Ground Powder for a velvet finish

Let us know how yours turned out in the comments below! We can wait to try out this recipe for our own gatherings!