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Get the Recipe: Golden Cupcakes

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Ingredients

For the Golden Cupcakes

  • 1/4 cup chocolate hazelnut spread, (see baker's notes)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Chocolate Hazelnut Ganache Frosting

  • 10 ounces bittersweet chocolate
  • 2/3 cup confectioner’s sugar, , sifted
  • 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy cream
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/3 cup chocolate hazelnut spread, (see baker's notes)
  • 12 Ferrero Rocher bonbons

Instructions
 

For the Golden Cupcakes

  • Line a baking tray with wax paper, and carefully dole out 1 teaspoon of chocolate hazelnut spread 2 inches apart from one another. Freeze until solid, about 2 - 3 hours, preferably overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 (F) and line a muffin tin with cupcake cases.
  • Combine 1 cup flour, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, ¼ teaspoon salt and 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter in the bowl of a freestanding electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and beat on slow speed until you get a sandy consistency and everything is combined. Gradually pour in half of the milk and beat until the milk is just incorporated.
  • Whisk together 1 large egg, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla and the remaining milk together in a liquid measuring cup, before pouring into the flour mixture and continuing to beat until just incorporated. Scrape down any unmixed ingredients from the side of the bowl and the paddle, before continuing to mix for another minute until the batter is just smooth. Be careful not to overmix!
  • Use a tablespoon or a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop to portion out 1 tablespoon of batter into each prepared cupcake case. Take the frozen teaspoon of chocolate hazelnut spread and place on top of each cupcake case, before topping off with another tablespoon of cupcake batter. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until the cakes are light golden and the tops of each cupcake bounce back when touched. Let the cupcakes cool slightly in the pan, before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  • When the cupcakes are cold, frost each cupcake with generous amounts of chocolate hazelnut ganache frosting, topping each with a Ferrero Rocher bonbon.

For the Chocolate Hazelnut Ganache Frosting

  • Combine 10 ounces bittersweet chocolate and 2/3 cup confectioner's sugar in a medium, heatproof bowl.
  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy cream to a gentle simmer, whisking occasionally. Pour the hot cream into the medium, heatproof bowl containing the chocolate and confectioner's sugar mixture. Stir the mixture with a heatproof, rubber spatula until the sugar is dissolved.
  • Once the sugar has dissolved, nestle the medium, heatproof bowl over a medium saucepan of simmer water to make a double boiler — be sure that the water in the saucepan doesn't touch the bottom of your heatproof bowl. Gently cook, stirring with a rubber spatula, until all the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove the bowl from the heat.
  • In a separate, smaller heatproof bowl, whisk together 2 large egg yolks. Pour about 1/2 cup of some of the melted chocolate mixture into the yolks while whisking, to temper them. Pour the tempered mixture back into the larger, heatproof bowl containing the rest of the original mixture and whisk to combine. Add 3 tablespoons unsalted butter and whisk until smooth and completely dissolved into the mixture. Add another 1/3 cup chocolate hazelnut spread and whisk until smooth and fully incorporated.
  • Allow the ganache to cool for about 15 to 20 minutes, before using immediately. It’s important that you let the ganache cool before using, or it will be too liquidy and hard to work with. The ganache will thicken as it cools.

Notes

Adapted from my eBook, 12 Days of Christmas Desserts
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