The Valentine’s Day cupcakes are soft and delicious treats, perfect for celebrating the most romantic day of the year with the person you love the most. A very simple recipe that involves making chocolate cupcakes. The name of these mini cakes comes from the fact that they were originally baked in cups, as paper liners did not yet exist (Wikipedia).
The cupcake is a mini sweet cake, baked in paper liners like those used for muffins. Initially popular in American patisseries and now worldwide, these mini cakes have become a true symbol for cake design lovers. These soft cakes lend themselves very well to being decorated on the surface with sugar paste, or butter or cheese frosting.
In my version, I used a cream made with whipped cream and mascarpone. You can choose the type of decoration. Feel free to use your imagination to choose the decoration you prefer. If you’re curious to find out how to make them, then read the recipe because the Valentine’s Day cupcakes will be ready in a click!
If you are interested in other Valentine’s Day recipes, also check out:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 12 cupcakes
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: American
- Seasonality: Valentine's Day
- Energy 360.79 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 29.97 (g) of which sugars 18.56 (g)
- Proteins 4.92 (g)
- Fat 26.07 (g) of which saturated 12.03 (g)of which unsaturated 4.78 (g)
- Fibers 1.92 (g)
- Sodium 28.21 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 74 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter (soft)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tbsps milk
- 3 oz dark chocolate
- 3/4 cup whipping cream
- 3/4 cup mascarpone
- 1/3 cup sugar
- colored sprinkles (as needed)
Tools
- Bowl
- Electric mixers
- Hand whisk
- Piping bag
- Paper liners for muffins
- Muffin tin
Steps
First, chop the chocolate coarsely and melt it in the microwave or over a double boiler and let it cool. Remove the butter from the fridge at least 15 minutes before making the cupcakes, so it is soft and can be worked. Break it into a bowl in pieces and add the sugar. Work the two ingredients with the electric mixers for at least ten minutes, until you obtain a cream.
Then add one egg at a time, mixing always with the electric mixers. Then pour in the melted and cooled chocolate and the milk and continue working the mixture with a hand whisk or a spatula. At this point, incorporate the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and unsweetened cocoa, sifting them to avoid lumps. Incorporate them using a whisk until you get a smooth and lump-free mixture.
Then pour the obtained batter into a piping bag. This way it will be easier to transfer it into the molds. Alternatively, you can also use an ice cream scoop. Then distribute paper liners inside the muffin tin and fill them with the batter 3/4 full. Bake the cupcakes in a preheated static oven at 350°F for 25 minutes, checking the baking with a toothpick.
Once the baking time has elapsed, remove them from the oven and let them cool before removing them from the mold. In the meantime, prepare the frosting by whipping the cold cream from the refrigerator with mascarpone and sugar, until you obtain a fluffy and airy cream.
Then transfer the cream into the piping bag using a star tip. Cover the surface of the cupcakes with the frosting and decorate with heart-shaped sugar sprinkles.
Variations and Tips for Valentine’s Day Cupcakes
Valentine’s Day cupcakes can be stored in the refrigerator for one or two days.
Valentine’s Day Cupcakes FAQs
How can I substitute the whipped cream and mascarpone for decorating the cupcakes?
You can use sugar paste or, alternatively, butter or cream cheese frosting.
