Chocolate Cupcakes for Cancer

Here is my first recipe made in thought of "Cupcakes for Cancer" They are chocolate with a vanilla buttercream frosting and white chocolate flower decoration, in thought of the "relay for life" symbol.

Buttermilk Chocolate Cupcake *Courtesy of Taste of Home

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup water

Frosting
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoons whipping cream or milk

Directions

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk mixture, beating well after each addition.
Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 375° for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

Frosting


In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.

Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.

Chocolate flowers

There isn't really a recipe... just melt a little bit of white chocolate chips with a tiny bit of shortening and yellow food colouring, pipe into flower shapes on waxed paper. Freeze for 2-3 hours so they don't break when decorating the cupcakes

Enjoy!
The cupcakes tomorrow are my own recipe :)