Marble Cupcakes!

          Today was the day! I have a wonderful cupcake recipe to share with you as well as a simple frosting to top your cakes! Next to anything red velvet, I love chocolate cakes. Marble cakes look beautiful and it is oh-so-simple! Excuse the picture above! I forgot to take the picture before frosting. They tasted like heaven. Here is my recipes for the marble cake:

TIP: What I usually do is make the batter, separate it, and then add the cocoa powder to one half. It is more efficient!

Cupcake batter:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour (sifted, or whisk dry ingredients for 2 minutes)
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup vegetable oil (or canola oil)
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder (mix into one half of the batter once separated; Remember to sift/whisk your cocoa because it lumps easily)

I like using the buttermilk because of the unique richness it provides a chocolate cake... Or any cake for that matter! Now, you know the drill: preheat your oven to 350 degrees, mix dry ingredients in a mixing bowl (large bowl preferred), and then add your wet ingredients. In your cupcake sheet-lined muffin tin, lay down a sequence of vanilla and chocolate batter to fill the tin approximately half way. I like to take a knife to fold and swirl the batter for aesthetic purposes. Bake for 25 minutes. 

The frosting I use for this cupcake is simpler than you can ever imagine: 

Cream cheese frosting:

Make a chocolate ganache using the chocolate of your choice (I used a large Cadbury Caramilk for this cake) and add to softened cream cheese. It is that simple:

• Take one package of room temperature cream cheese and soften it with the back of a spatula or a wooden spoon - reserve
• Take about 1/2 cup-1 cup of milk or cream and let it come to a simmer (medium heat)
• Add a large brick of chocolate of your choice (make sure you break it up roughly)
• It will take a while to melt, and it may look pretty gross, you might wonder if you messed up- YOU DIDN'T! I promise
• Once the chocolate beings to melt, you will see the mixture become glossy and thicken
• Add the chocolate to your cream cheese and mix - again it may look gross at first (I would transition to a whisk for optimum results!) 
• Let this sit for 15 minutes to cool before frosting your cakes - It will be thicker if you wait

There you go! One of my favourite, simple, delicious, and care-free recipes. Tomorrow is buttermilk biscuits! Stay tuned! 

ENJOY!