Chocolate Cupcakes and a giveaway for Mother's Day @KristaDavis

 

 

 

 

 

 LUCY BURDETTE: It's Mother's Day and what could be a better way to celebrate than having our own dear Krista Davis bring news of a giveaway, plus chocolate cupcakes! Welcome Krista! We miss you and are so happy to have you visit, especially with a new book!

KRISTA DAVIS: I am so excited to be back at Mystery Lovers' Kitchen! Thanks for inviting me, Lucy. Today I'm sharing my new go-to recipe for chocolate cupcakes. They are so light and airy that I have to ration them and not indulge too much. The recipe makes a whopping 24 cupcakes, but happily they freeze very well, which makes them the perfect cupcake for Sophie Winston, who always likes to have something on hand to serve, because you never know when people might gather in your kitchen to discuss a murder.

In The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit, Sophie's best friend Nina returns from a European vacation looking much worse for the wear.

The next day, one of Nina's traveling companions is murdered. The only clue is a strange image the dying victim scratched into the soil. Could it point to a cryptic killer? A cursed artifact? When another traveler dies, Sophie knows if she doesn't find the murderer soon, her best friend may be next.

 

The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit will be in stores on May 25th, but I have copies! I'm so happy to be here that I will give away two books today. A copy of The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit and a copy of the newest Wagtail book, Big Little Spies. See how to enter below.

 

I'm always intrigued by alternative uses for ingredients, so I experimented with mayonnaise instead of butter in these cupcakes.They exceeded my expectations. These rise quite high, so if you prefer a lower cupcake, fill the wells 1/2 full.

I frost these with a super creamy frosting. Unfortunately it does involve a double boiler, which has sort of gone out of fashion. So if you prefer, frost these with your favorite frosting. If you're feeling adventurous, haul out the double boiler. This makes a dark chocolate (not overly sweet) frosting. For more sweetness, use 3 ounces of unsweetened chocolate. Taste to be sure it's sweet enough for your taste!

 

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cupcakes

 

 3 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
3 eggs
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 cups water

Preheat the oven to 350. Place cupcake papers in wells in cupcake pan.
Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and sugar in a medium bowl and stir with a fork to blend.

In a mixer, beat together the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the mayonnaise and vanilla and beat. Alternate between adding the water and the flour mixture. Divide the batter among the cupcake papers, filling ¾ full.

Bake 18 minutes. Frost with Chocolate Frosting.

Chocolate Frosting

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate

4 large egg yolks

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup heavy cream 

1 1/4 cups softened unsalted butter

Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over hot water. Meanwhile, beat the egg yolks with the sugar. Mix in the salt and heavy cream. Pour it slowly into the chocolate and stir constantly. Bring it briefly to 160 degrees, (you may need to turn the heat down afterward) and continue stirring until thick. Remove from heat and cool.

Cream the butter thoroughly. Add the cool chocolate mixture one spoon at a time until it is all mixed in. If it is too soft, chill in the refrigerator until ready to use.

To enter to win a hardcover copy of The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit or a paperback copy of Big Little Spies, please leave a comment with your email address and let me know which book you would like to win. Good luck!

Happy Mother's Day!

( It's not too late to bake cupcakes for Mom!)