Chocolate Cupcakes w/Cinnamon Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Apparently, I have a bit of a memory problem..as in, I forget EVERYTHING!  At least this is what my kids and husband claim.  A pile of clothes is left on the floor and I ask my kids why they weren’t put in the laundry hamper and the answer is “you forgot to tell me to put them there”.  I forgot…not them.  The trash wasn’t taken out on my oldest son’s chore day to do so and it is because I forgot to remind him to do it.  Our dogs ran out of food and my husband did not know this and subsequently did not pick up any while he was at the store (though he feeds them everyday) and I forgot to mention to him that the dogs were out of food.   Seriously?  I’m really starting to worry about myself and “my” forgetfulness.

Friday, after working all week long, and nearing that “special” time of the month, I decided that I needed chocolate…LOTS of chocolate so I made a batch of rich, dark chocolate cupcakes and thought I’d surprise everyone with a cinnamon chocolate butter cream frosting.  Sound’s divine doesn’t it?  I worked on these decadent treats for over an hour.  I even took the time to pipe on the frosting instead of doing it old-school with a knife. 

Then the men of my family showed up.

And the conversation went something like this…

Oldest “what are those?”

Youngest “why did you make cupcakes?”

Me “It’s Friday and I wanted to give everyone a treat”…said with a smile

Oldest “you said you’d make cheesecake”

Youngest “I don’t like chocolate”

Me “since when?” said to the youngest

Oldest “you promised me cheesecake”

Youngest “she probably forget” said to the oldest

Husband “Is it that time of the month?”

Me – no words…just thoughts “are you freaking kidding me???”  I slave in here for an hour and all you can say is “no cheesecake?”  and did you seriously just ask me if it was that time of the month?... Though it was but I don’t need to admit to that!  I just made freaking cupcakes for crying out loud!!

Oldest “ugh…you forget EVE.Ree.THING!”

Then the conversation spiraled downward even further so I casually poured myself a glass of wine, while they all continued to bicker amongst themselves, took the cupcake with the most amount of frosting on it,  walked out of the kitchen, directly into my bathroom and LOCKED.THE.DOOR!

I then proceeded to enjoy them both in a hot, bubble filled tub while listening to Enya playing in my ears all the while forgetting the men in my life still arguing in the kitchen.  

And I have to tell you all, that THAT was the best. damn. cupcake. EVER! 

So here you have it…the NOT cheesecake Chocolate Cupcake with Cinnamon Chocolate Buttercream frosting.

I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did! 

Chocolate Cupcakes frosted with Cinnamon Chocolate Buttercream

by Angi McCarthy

Keywords: dessert chocolate cinnamon cupcake

Ingredients (serves 12)

Chocolate Cake

• 2 cups sugar
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened Hershey's Special Dark cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup strong black coffee (I used Starbucks Cafe Verona Roast)
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup EV Olive oil
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Cinnamon Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

• 1 cup unsalted butter softened (but not melted!)
• 3 1/2 cups confectioners (powdered) sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon table salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream

Instructions

Chocolate Cake

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans or one 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa(s), baking soda, baking powder. Mix on low until dry ingredients are thoroughly combined. Add eggs, buttermilk, coffee, oils and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for about two minutes; the batter will be thin. Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.

Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes for round pans, 35 to 40 minutes for rectangular pan or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.

Frost with any icing you'd like. I topped mine with a Cinnamon Chocolate Buttercream Frosting.

Cinnamon Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Cream butter for a few minutes in a mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed. Turn off the mixer. Sift 3 cups powdered sugar, cinnamon and cocoa into the mixing bowl. Turn your mixer on the lowest speed (so the dry ingredients do not blow everywhere) until the sugar and cocoa mixture are absorbed by the butter. Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla extract, salt, and milk/cream and beat for 3 minutes. If your frosting needs a more stiff consistency, add a little more sugar. If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add additional milk 1 tablespoon at a time.

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