Chocolate Sinful Cupcake #recipe from author @DarylWoodGerber

From Daryl:

There are days that I love what I do. Okay, most days. Sometimes having to bake and cook to make my books shine, however, can be daunting. Will the recipe work? Will someone else like it? Will the pictures turn out pretty enough? Will my editor want to keep the recipe in the book after all my hard work?

As I write this post, I have something baking in the oven for my next book. A test recipe. I'm on pins and needles. If it doesn't work, it's a couple hours out of my life - hours I could have been writing. Can you feel my stress? No?  Okay, that's cool. But it is stressful, to a degree.

Until I come up with a recipe like the one I'm sharing -- it can also be found in SIFTING THROUGH

CLUES, which is now available in paper and e-book.

In this story, Jenna and her pals are having a moveable feast for their book club, going house to house while discussing the story. Jenna makes these cupcakes as her contribution. She's so proud of herself. As you know, though she's a foodie, she's been learning how to cook. Baby steps.

These cupcakes are so delicious. So moist. I think it's the espresso coffee that really gives them a kick. And they worked perfectly gluten-free, as well, so I'm sharing both recipes.

Chocolate SINFUL Cupcakes

(Regular version)

(makes 1 dozen)

1/2 cup unsalted butter

3/4 cup brewed coffee, *espresso is even better

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark chocolate cocoa

1 cup sugar

1 cup flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup sour cream

1 egg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pan with cupcake liners.

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter.  Add the coffee, cocoa powder, and vanilla. Set aside to cool. 

In a medium bowl, sift the sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In yet another medium bowl, stir the sour cream and egg together.  Slowly, drizzling in a stream, whisk in the chocolate mixture.

Now, add the chocolate/egg mixture to the dry ingredients.  Stir until there are no lumps.

Fill the cupcake liners about 2/3 full.  Bake for 18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.   Cool on a wire rack. Do not frost until cooled completely.

Chocolate Coffee Buttercream Frosting
(can use for both versions of this cupcake - naturally gluten-free)

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 4-ounce package cream cheese, softened

1 16-ounce package confectioners’ sugar, more as needed

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3 tablespoons brewed coffee, *espresso is even better

1/2 teaspoon salt

chocolate sprinkles, if desired

In a medium bowl, beat butter and cream cheese together.  Slowly beat in confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder, coffee, and salt until smooth and spreadable. Add more sugar or coffee if necessary.

Spread on cupcakes and add sprinkles, if desired.  (Store whatever you don't use in an airtight container and refrigerate.)

CHOCOLATE SINFUL CUPCAKES

(Gluten-free version)

(makes 1 dozen)

1/2 cup unsalted butter

3/4 cup brewed coffee, *espresso is even better

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark chocolate cocoa

1 cup sugar

1 cup gluten-free flour *I use sweet rice flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum

1/3 cup sour cream

1 egg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pan with cupcake liners.

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter.  Add the coffee, cocoa powder, and vanilla. Set aside to cool. 

In a medium bowl, sift the sugar, gluten-free flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, and xanthan gum. Set aside.

In yet another medium bowl, stir the sour cream and egg together.  Slowly, drizzling in a stream, whisk in the chocolate mixture.

Now, add the chocolate/egg mixture to the dry ingredients.  Stir until there are no lumps.

Fill the cupcake liners about 2/3 full.  Bake for 18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.   Cool on a wire rack. Do not frost until cooled completely.

SIFTING THROUGH CLUES buy link

The latest Cookbook Nook Mystery (#8), available in trade paperback and e-book.

What's it about?

Book clubs from all over have descended on Crystal Cove to celebrate the library’s Book Club Bonanza week, and Jenna Hart has packed the Cookbook Nook with juicy reads and tasty cookbooks. But she’s most excited about spending an evening with the Mystery Mavens and their moveable feast, when they will go from house to house to share different culinary treats and discuss the whodunit they’re all reading. It’s all good food and fun for the savvy armchair detectives, until one of the members of the group is found murdered at the last stop on the tour.

As if that weren’t enough to spoil her appetite, Jenna discovers that all the evidence points to her friend Pepper as being the guilty party. And with Pepper’s chief-of-police daughter too close to the case to be impartial, Jenna knows she’ll have to step in to help clear her friend’s name before a bitter injustice sends her to jail. Sifting through the clues, Jenna unearths any number of possible culprits, but she’ll have to cook up a new way to catch the killer before Pepper’s goose is cooked.

Includes tasty sweet and savory recipes!

SAVOR THE MYSTERY!

 

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A SOUFFLÉ OF SUSPICION, the 2nd French Bistro Mystery.

Can Mimi prove her chef innocent before the chef gets dusted?

Click here to order.

A DEADLY ÉCLAIR, the 1st French Bistro Mysteries, in all formats.

Can Mimi clear her name before the killer turns up the heat?

Click here to order.

SIFTING THROUGH CLUES, the 8th Cookbook Nook Mystery.
Sifting through the clues, Jenna unearths any number of possible culprits, but she’ll have to cook up a new way to catch the killer before her friend Pepper’s goose is cooked. 
Click here to order. 

WREATH BETWEEN THE LINES, the 7th Cookbook Nook Mystery.

Jenna Hart is busy decking the halls and ducking a killer

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FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE, the 7th Cheese Shop Mystery by Avery Aames.

Finally there's going to be a cheese festival in Providence!

Click to order.

GIRL ON THE RUN, a stand-alone suspense.
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DAY OF SECRETS, a stand-alone suspense

A mother he thought was dead. A father he never knew. An enemy that wants them dead.

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