Celebration Cupcakes

Chocolate cupcakes can be repetitive after many takes. Spice it up with the tang of buttermilk, a rich ganache frosting, and a dash of icing sugar. Add some crafting skills and they're perfect for birthdays and anniversaries.

Replace rum with a liqueur or juice of your choosing, if you’d like a subtly different flavour.

Taste
Preparation time
45 minutes
Makes
10 servings
Category
Baking
Tags
baking
1.25 cups
plain flour
1 cup
caster sugar
2/3 cup
cocoa
3/4 tsp
baking powder
1/2 tsp
salt
1 cup
buttermilk
1
large egg
1/3 cup
vegetable oil
2 tsp
vanilla extract
1/2 tsp
ground allspice
2 Tbsp
rum (optional)
40g
butter
1 cup
icing sugar
40mL
milk
  1. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
  2. Place flour, sugar, 1/2 cup of cocoa, baking powder, and salt into a bowl. Stir to combine.
  3. In a separate bowl, place buttermilk, egg, oil, 1 tsp of vanilla, and rum (if using). Mix to combine, then mix into dry ingredients.
  4. Line a muffin pan with paper muffin cases, and divide mixture between them. Bake for 25 minutes, and set aside to cool.
  5. Meanwhile, melt butter in a small saucepan over a low heat. Add remaining cocoa and stir until the mixture is smooth and thick. Remove from the heat, place into a small bowl, and allow to cool slightly.
  6. Add the milk and remaining vanilla, alternating with the icing sugar, and beat with an electric mixer till the appropriate consistency.
  7. Once cupcakes are cool, spread frosting evenly over each cupcake. If desired, cut shape template out of a thin cardboard (cereal boxes work well for this). Carefully holding template over cupcakes, dust further icing sugar until shape is clear.