Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes

     One of my all time favorite desserts is the chocolate covered strawberry.  The sweet, juicy strawberry wrapped in silky chocolate it better then any cookie or cake out there...or so I thought.  I was looking for a new cupcake to make for a party at my gym.  As hard as I tried to think of a cupcake I kept coming back to the chocolate covered strawberry.

     I finally thought why not combine them?  I could make a moist chocolate cupcake with strawberry frosting.  That was the initial plan but after trying to put together a recipe I wanted a strawberry middle to the chocolate cupcake.  Then I decided to go for it and put a chocolate covered strawberry on top of the cupcake.

     The result is quite possibly the best cupcake I've ever made.  The chocolate cupcake is rich and moist with a sweet homemade strawberry jam filling.  A thick, creamy, strawberry frosting is piped on the cupcake and then it's topped off with a large, juicy chocolate covered strawberry.  They not only taste delicious but they look gorgeous as well.  These are definitely a special occasion cupcake.  The ladies at the gym loved them and they were gone in no time at all!

     I just found out that these cupcakes won the Rodelle Valentine's Day cupcake contest!  Check it out!

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes (a Hezzi-D original!)

For the cupcakes:

1 c. flour

1 c. sugar

1/3 c. Hershey's cocoa powder

¾ t. baking powder

¾ t. baking soda

½ t. salt

1 egg, beaten

¾ c. milk

5 T. butter, softened

2 T. applesauce

1 t. vanilla extract

For the Strawberry Filling:

½ c. sugar

1 c. chopped strawberries

1 T. water

1 T. lemon juice

1 T. cornstarch

1 T. instant pectin

For the strawberry buttercream frosting:

¾ c. strawberry puree

3 egg whites

1 c. sugar

14 T. butter

¼ c. powdered sugar

For the topping:

15 whole strawberries

4 oz. chocolate candy melts

    1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line 2 cupcake tins with 15 cupcake liners.  Set aside.

    2.    In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Mix well.

    3.    Using a fork, mix in the butter until the batter is crumbly.  Stir in the egg, milk, applesauce, and vanilla.  Mix well.  The batter will be thin.

    4.     Fill the cupcake cups 2/3 of the way full.  Bake for 23-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

    5.     To make the strawberry filling combine the sugar, chopped strawberries, lemon juice, and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly.  When the mixture starts to boil slowly mix in the cornstarch and pectin.  Continue stirring for 3 minutes.  Remove from heat and cool in the refrigerator.

    6.    Using a knife cut a circle in the tops of the cooled cupcakes.  Gently pull a small piece off so that there is a hole in each cupcake for the filling.  Reserve the top piece of cake that was cut off for later.

    7.    Spoon a small amount of the cooled filling into each cupcake.  Place the top piece of the cupcake back on top, sealing in the filling.

    8.    To make the buttercream pour a half cup of water into a small saucepan and cook over medium heat.  Place a heat proof bowl on top of the saucepan and add in the egg whites and sugar.  Stir constantly until the sugar has completely dissolved but do not boil.

 

    9.    Immediately remove the egg whites from the heat and using a hand mixture beat on medium speed for 5-6 minutes or until the mixture has cooled and stiff peaks have formed.  

    10. Cut the butter into pieces and add them to the egg whites one piece at a time on medium low speed until the butter is incorporated and the buttercream is smooth.  

 

    11.  Increase speed to medium and add in the strawberry puree.  Mix until smooth.

    12.  Pour in the powdered sugar a little bit at a time while still mixing on medium speed until desired consistency is reached.

    13.  Pipe the frosting on top of the cupcakes.

    14.  Melt the chocolate candy melts in the microwave in 30 second intervals until they are totally melted.  Holding each strawberry by the stem, dip into the chocolate, let the excess dip off into the bowl, and then lay on waxed paper to cool.

    15.  Place one cooled chocolate covered strawberry on top of each cupcake.

This post linked to:
Full Plate Thursdays, Sweet Tooth Friday, Foodie Friday
Sweets for a Saturday,  Seasonal Inspiration,