Chocolatey Chocolate Cupcakes

These chocolate cupcakes are always the ones that get the 'you have to give me the recipe for this' reaction, so its about time I posted a chocolate cake recipe! This recipe is also for the large chocolate cake.

For these chocolate cupcakes you will need :

• 4oz plain chocolate
• 1oz cocoa powder
• 6oz Self Raising Flour
• 6oz Butter (Stork baking butter)
• 4oz Caster sugar
• 2oz Muscovado Sugar
• 4 Medium eggs
• 2 Tbsp Milk
• A splash of Vegetable Oil

For the Chocolate Fudge Cream you will need :

• 7oz Plain Chocolate
• 175ml Double Cream
• 8oz Icing Sugar

To make the cakes :

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4.
2. Melt the chocolate in glass bowl over a boiling pan until runny, allow to slightly cool before use.
3. Cream together the softened butter and the 2 sugars.
4. Beat the eggs in a measuring jug ready to pour.
5. Mix the melted chocolate into the butter and sugar mixture.
6. Gradually add the eggs, mixing them in a small amount at at time.
7. Add the splash of vegetable oil to the mixture.
8. Sift in the flour and cocoa powder at the same time and use a large metal spoon to carefully mix it.
9. Add the milk while mixing to stop the mixture from becoming too dry.
10. Divide the mixture between 2 round tins for a large cake or evenly fill the cupcake cases roughly half full. Bake the cupcakes for 15 minutes or the large cake for 25 minutes before checking with a cocktail stick to see if it is cooked. If the cocktail stick comes out clean the cakes are ready.
11. Leave the cakes to cool and then decorate with the chocolate fudge icing.

To make the chocolate fudge icing :

1. Melt the chocolate in a bowl over simmering water.
2. Whilst on a low heat gently beat in the double cream.
3. Once mixed remove from the heat and add the icing sugar carefully mixing until the mixture has a fudge-like texture.
4. Either fill the cake to sandwich it together and then cover the cake with the remaining icing or apply a small amount to the cupcake either using a flat knife or piping it on. Add sprinkles and edible glitter for decoration for an extra special touch.