Happy fantastic Friday my fellow baking badasses!
Virtual fist bumps and cupcakes all around for making it through the week! No, literally... Because this is a cupcake recipe and I may or may not have fist bumped my computer screen as I wrote this (can't leave ya hanging, can I?).
And speaking of cupcakes, these cupcakes came from one of "those" moments. You know, that kind of foodie/blogger moment where the stars align and you get a recipe every bit as fun to make as it is decadent. And woah nelly, is it decadent!
Also, this recipe involves bourbon and fire, so it's got that going for it. <-- Written like a responsible sounding adult.
Side note: I'm pretty sure this whole "adulting" thing was not what I signed up for. If I'mma have to pay bill, eat responsibly, exercise, get up at a reasonable hour, pick out health insurance providers, save for retirement, exercise will power, and budget, I should at least get to play with fire and bourbon every once in a while. I mean seriously guys, SERIOUSLY.
Buuuuuuuut, back to the cupcakes at hand. The perks to adulting cupcakes. The I'mma-add-fire-and-bourbon-to-my-chocolate-hazelnut-cupcake-goodness-and-cry-as-I-watch-my-bills-suck-the-money-out-of-my-bank-account-cupcakes... I mean... responsible adulty words and things...
Also, I'm pretty sure that many hyphens in one sentence should be illegal...
Like these cupcakes! Moist chocolaty hazelnut cupcakes with mile-high toasted bourbon meringue frosting and crunchy hazelnut pieces.
Recipe
Chocolate Hazelnut Cupcakes with Bourbon Frosting
These rich chocolate hazelnut cupcakes are topped with a toasted bourbon meringue frosting.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 cupcakes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
For the hazelnut cupcakes:
- ½ cup boiling water
- 1 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tsp. hazelnut extract
- ¾ cup baking cocoa
- ¾ cup all purpose flour
- ¾ tsp. baking soda
- ¼ tsp. baking powder
For the bourbon meringue frosting:
- 6 egg whites
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1-2 tbsp. bourbon
- ¼ cup coarsely chopped hazelnuts
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the semi-sweet chocolate and boiling water. Stir until the chocolate has melted. In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip the egg and vegetable oil until light and fluffy. Add the granulated sugar, water/chocolate, hazelnut extract, and milk, and beat until just combined.
- Fold in the dry ingredients until the batter is lump free. Pour it into your lined cupcake pan(s) and bake at 350F/175C for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the sugar and egg whites for the frosting. Place over a pot of boiling water and heat, whisking occasionally, until the mixture is hot and the sugar has dissolved.
- Remove the bowl from the boiling water, return it to the stand mixer, and whip until stiff peaks form and the frosting has cooled to room temperature. Add the bourbon and whip until just combined.
- Spoon the frosting into a large piping bag and affix with a tip of your choice (I used an Ateco 829). Pipe the frosting onto your cooled cupcakes, dip the sides in your coarsely chopped hazelnuts, and toast the edges with a chef's torch. Be careful as the hazelnuts are very flammable. Due to the frosting, these cupcakes are best served the same day.
Notes
Cupcake recipe adapted from Miette (2011), pg. 55
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 43.7g
- Sodium: 107mg
- Fat: 8.1g
- Saturated Fat: 2.1g
- Carbohydrates: 53.2g
- Fiber: 2.2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 14mg
Sue Gregory says
These look AMAZING!!!
The Simple, Sweet Life says
Thanks you! 😀
The Simple, Sweet Life says
Eyegasm?! Love it! 😀 Thank you Tina!
thebrickkitchen says
Ahh I love any opportunity to get out the kitchen blow-torch! Especially when it involves chocolate and bourbon as well... <3
The Simple, Sweet Life says
Glad to hear I'm not the only one! 😀
Gloria says
Well I think I have found what I am going to make for Father's Day dessert. My hubby LOVES all the flavours in this tasty cupcake. This will be a winner for sure. I just know that he is going to love them.
Analida @ ethnicspoon.com says
I am going to have to dip into my husband's bourbon to try the meringue! I might just make it and float it on some Irish coffee. Thanks for sharing!
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices says
Funny post to read 😉 and those cupcakes look outrageously good!! Love the different textures and the flavors are spot on!
Kate says
Oh my goodness, where do I even begin? These look like a little piece of heaven! I can't wait until I have occasion to make them...because I would definitely eat them all myself if I made them now!
dixya @food, pleasure, and health says
everything about this cupcake sounds divine...hazelnut + chocolate is my fav combo!
Leslie says
Why, HELLO THERE GORGEOUS! Where have these been all my life?! I'm using these as the reason I have to have a kitchen torch STAT!
Anne Murphy says
The toasted meringue frosting is so pretty! And you can't go wrong with chocolate and hazelnut... bourbon just brings it up another layer!
Kim @ Berly's Kitchen says
If I could give this recipe 10 stars, I would!! These cupcakes look sooo good. Is it wrong that I'd like to eat an entire batch? And just look at that frosting! 🙂
Amy Treasure says
Oh goodness me they look so good, I want to eat one (or three) right now!
Femi. O says
You nailed these girl! These look utterly delectable and I totally love that char on the meringue frosting! Now all we have to figure out is who to send the bill of this monitor I broke after instinctively reaching out for one of these...
Amanda Mason says
These look absolutely gorgeous! I don't have a chef's torch...I think I need to invest in one though. If one doesn't have a chef's torch, what could I use in it's place?
Matt Kearns says
I love the photography on these cupcakes! Also all of those flavors sound too amazing. Those cupcakes wouldn't last long in my house!