Chocolate Cupcakes with a Kick

The kick in this luscious dessert recipe comes from a teaspoon of ground chipotle chile pepper that's added to the box cake mix.

Chocolate Cupcakes with a Twist
Photo: Andy Lyons
Prep Time:
35 mins
Bake Time:
18 mins
Total Time:
35 mins
Yield:
24 cupcakes

Ingredients

  • 1 2-layer-size chocolate or devil's food cake mix

  • 1 ¼ cup sour cream

  • 3 eggs

  • cup cooking oil

  • 2 tablespoon instant coffee crystals

  • ½ teaspoon ground chipotle chile pepper

  • 1 11.5 ounce package semisweet chocolate chunks

  • 2 teaspoon all-purpose flour

  • 1 recipe White Frosting (see recipe below)

  • 2 ounce semisweet chocolate, chopped

  • ¼ cup whipping cream

White Frosting

  • 1 8 ounce package cream cheese

  • ½ cup butter

  • ½ teaspoon vanilla

  • 2 cup powdered sugar

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line twenty-four 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups; set aside. In bowl combine cake mix, sour cream, eggs, oil, coffee crystals, and chipotle pepper. Beat with electric mixer on low to combine. Beat on medium to high for 2 minutes (batter will be thick).

  2. In bowl toss chocolate chunks with flour. Fold into batter. Spoon into prepared cups. Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool in pans on racks 5 minutes. Remove from pans; cool. Frost with White Frosting.

  3. For chocolate drizzle, place chopped chocolate in small bowl. In saucepan bring cream to boiling. Pour over chocolate; do not stir. Let stand 5 minutes; whisk until smooth. Place chocolate drizzle in resealable plastic bag; seal bag and snip off a small corner. Drizzle chocolate over cupcakes. Makes 24 cupcakes.

White Frosting

  1. Allow cream cheese and butter to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. In a medium mixing bowl beat cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Beat in vanilla. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until frosting reaches spreading consistency.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

335 Calories
21g Fat
37g Carbs
4g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Calories 335
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 55mg 18%
Sodium 251mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 37g 13%
Total Sugars 27g
Protein 4g
Calcium 60.6mg 5%
Iron 1.6mg 9%
Potassium 194mg 4%
Folate, total 20.2mcg
Vitamin B-12 0.2mcg
Vitamin B-6 0mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.