First, I wanted to mention I updated the chocolate frosting recipe from my last post to include pictures.

Today’s featured cupcakes are using the same chocolate cake and frosting recipes from last week’s blog but taking it to a whole new level by filling them with a little chocolate ganache!  Ganache is one of those must have freezer items for me because it has so many uses.  When warm, you can use it to drizzle over the top of cupcakes, pies, or cakes to give your desserts that finishing touch.  When refrigerated, the consistency is more solid so that it is “scoopable”.  Chocolate truffles are made from a version of ganache scooped into balls and rolled in a powdered cocoa or dipped in melted chocolate.

With these cupcakes, I used room temperature ganache.  I simply filled a pastry bag with a piping tip attached and inserted the tip into the baked cupcakes and gave a little squeeze.  It’s hard to judge how much you are filling the cupcake so just be careful not to go too crazy with this.  Just a teaspoon or two per cupcake will do the trick.  Ganache is very rich but will elevate your cupcakes to a whole new level!  So worth the extra effort!

Here’s the inside of one…just look at that yumminess!

I promise to blog a few uses for ganache soon.  If you happen to try making ganache prior to my more in depth blog on the subject, I would like to leave you with one helpful hint.  I have always been of the belief that if chocolate is good, then more chocolate is better.  Well, not in this recipe!  Too much chocolate can cause your ganache to crack if you use it to pour over a cake or brownie to top in a smooth layer.  Can you guess how I figured that out???  So be sure to weigh the chocolate using a kitchen scale and not go overboard by adding just a little more.  More is not always better.  Trust me, it will ruin your day!

Here’s the ganache recipe.

And because I was making chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing.  I just had to do this!

I bought the eyes which are pretty readily available in the baking section at most grocery stores and used fondant to make mouth.  Aren’t they cute?