Ghirardelli Chocolate Frosted Cupcakes

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Servings: 24
Yield: 24 servings

Description

We love cupcakes! Celebrate the spring season with delicious Ghirardelli chocolate frosted cupcakes with a bunny on top.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 (10 ounce) bag Ghirardelli® 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips
3 tablespoons Ghirardelli 100% Unsweetened Cocoa
1/4 cup boiling water
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 pinch salt
Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Bunnies

Directions

1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 muffin pans with paper liners; set aside.
2 Into a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
3 In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs and sugar on medium speed for 1 minute.
4 In a separate bowl, mix together the vanilla, oil, and buttermilk.
5 With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in 3 parts, alternating with the liquids; beat until combined after each addition, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
6 Divide the batter evenly between the cups so that each is two-thirds full. Bake, rotating halfway, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, about 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to cool.
7 Chocolate Frosting: Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler; stir occasionally until smooth, about 5 minutes.
8 In a separate bowl, stir together the cocoa and boiling water. Let both the chocolate and the cocoa mixture cool to room temperature.
9 In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar, and salt on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add the melted chocolate on low speed, and then beat in the cocoa mixture.
10 To Assemble: Pipe frosting onto cupcakes. Let frosting set for 5 minutes. Decorate the cupcakes by placing a Ghirardelli Chocolate Bunny on top of the frosting.