Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes with Ganache Frosting
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 2/3 cup milk, at room temperature
- 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons mini semisweet chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
- Ganache frosting, recipe follows
- 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder, optional
- Place rack in the middle of oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 12 muffin cups with cupcake papers.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt, and set aside.
- Using a mixer, cream the butter and 3/4 cup sugar until pale yellow, about 1 minute.
- Add the egg and stir until just combined.
- Gently add half of the flour mixture and stir until just incorporated.
- Mix in the milk.
- Add the remaining flour mixture and stir until combined.
- Set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, 2 tablespoons sugar, and vanilla.
- Stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts.
- Fill prepared cupcake liners with enough chocolate batter to just cover the bottom.
- Add a dollop of the cream cheese filling to each, then top with remaining batter (cream cheese filling should not be visible).
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Let cupcakes stand in the pan for 3 minutes and then remove and allow to cool completely on a rack.
- Dip each cupcake into the ganache, forming an even layer of frosting.
- Place in the refrigerator to set, about 15 minutes.
- Place a heat-proof bowl over a pot of simmering water, and whisk together the chocolate, cream, and espresso powder (if using).
- Continue whisking until chocolate is melted and the mixture is thick, about 4 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes.
- Yield: 1 cup
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 minutes
- Inactive Prep Time: 5 minutes
flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt, butter, sugar, egg, milk, cream cheese, vanilla, chocolate chips, walnuts, ganache frosting, semisweet chocolate chips, heavy cream, espresso powder
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mary-nolan/chocolate-cheesecake-cupcakes-with-ganache-frosting-recipe.html (may not work)