Cupcakes: chocolate with chocolate

These were delicious; a mild chocolate flavor that turned out great for my husband (whose birthday it was) even though he's not a huge chocolate fan. The recipe is from Southern Living via Real Mom Kitchen (my very favorite recipe blog lately).

Moist Chocolate Cupcakes

1 package German chocolate cake mix (but it doesn't end up tasting like German chocolate)

1 16-oz container sour cream (they will turn out better with full-fat sour cream, not light)

1/4 c butter, melted

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350. Beat all ingredients at low speed with an electric mixer until it comes together, then increase speed to medium and beat 3-4 minutes or until smooth, stopping to scrape the bowl as needed. The batter will be very thick, like a thick mousse.

Place paper baking cups in muffin pans and spoon batter evenly into baking cups, about 2/3 full. The recipe says it makes 24 cupcakes; I needed a few more than that so I stretched it to 30 cupcakes and they turned out great. So I would say, makes 24-30. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean... OR, when touched lightly in the middle of the cupcake, it springs back.

Chocolate Buttercream

1/2 c butter, softened

3 oz. cream cheese

16 oz powdered sugar

1/4 c milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

6 oz (1 cup) dark or semi-sweet chocolate morsels

Beat butter & cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until blended. Increase speed to medium, and slowly add milk and vanilla, beating until smooth.

Microwave chocolate morsels in a microwave-safe bowl on medium for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals. Gradually add melted chocolate into frosting mixture, one spoonful at a time so you don't melt the butter & cream cheese, until blended and smooth.

I piped the frosting on with a large star tip, which really impressed the crowd I was serving them to. Funny because I think that piping frosting onto cupcakes is much easier & faster than spreading it on with a butterknife!