Chocolate-Dipped Buttercream Cupcakes

• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup Land O Lakes Unsalted Butter, softened
• 2 Land O Lakes Eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup finely chopped strawberries
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 cup sugar
• 5 Land O Lakes Eggs (whites only)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups Land O Lakes Unsalted Butter, cut ino pieces
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
• 2 tablespoons shortening

1. Heat oven to 375F.
2. Place paper baking cups into muffin pan cups or grease cups; set aside.
3. Place boiling water and cocoa into bowl; mix well.
4. Let stand until slightly cooled.
5. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in another bowl; set aside.
6. Place 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup butter into bowl; beat at medium speed until creamy.
7. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
8. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla.
9. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed just until combined.
10. Add cocoa mixture; beat until well mixed.
11. Spoon batter evenly into prepared muffin pan cups.
12. Bake 18-22 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
13. Cool completely.
14. Combine all strawberry ingredients in saucepan; mix well.
15. Cook over medium heat until mixture begins to bubble and is slightly thickened.
16. Remove from heat.
17. Set aside.
18. Place 1 cup sugar and egg whites into bowl; place bowl over saucepan with gently boiling water.
19. Cook, stirring often, until mixture reaches 165F.
20. Remove from heat.
21. Add salt; beat at medium speed 10 minutes or until stiff peaks form.
22. Transfer to large bowl.
23. Add butter, a few pieces at a time, beating well after each addition (mixture may look curdled, keep beating until fluffy).
24. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla; beat until mixture is smooth.
25. Add strawberry mixture; beat until well mixed.
26. Frost cupcakes.
27. Refrigerate until dipping time.
28. Place chocolate and shortening into bowl; microwave, stirring occasionally, 1-2 minutes or until melted.
29. Cool 15 minutes or until just warm.
30. Dip top 2/3 of frosting into melted chocolate; let stand until set.

boiling water, unsweetened cocoa, flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, strawberries, sugar, cornstarch, sugar, eggs, salt, butter, vanilla, semisweet chocolate, shortening

Taken from www.landolakes.com/recipe/4148/chocolate-dipped-buttercream-cupcakes (may not work)