Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes

This week's cupcake comes to you from a new cupcake book I got as a belated Christmas present.

The recipe was easy to follow with inexpensive ingredients and wowsa! Is it tasty. The raspberry paired with the chocolate is soooo good. And the best part? It's a simple raspberry jam straight out of the bottle. 

Chocolate Raspberry Volcano Cupcakes

from Wild About Cupcakes by Rachel Lane

For cupcakes:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3 tbsp. cocoa powder

1 tsp. baking powder

1/8 tsp. salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 large eggs

3 tbsp. milk

1/3 cup raspberry preserves (jam)

For Chocolate Buttercream:

6 oz. dark chocolate *I used baker's chocolate & semisweet chocolate chips*

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tbsp. milk

2 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup raspberry preserves (jam)

Preheat oven to 350. Line your cupcake pan. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Beat the butter, sugar and vanilla until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Add the dry ingredients, alternating with milk. Spoon half the batter into cups. Place some raspberry preserves in the center of each one and spoon the remaining batter over the top, filling each one 3/4 full. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool completely.

Melt the chocolate in a double broiler *or pop it in the microwave, like I do* Let cool. Beat the butter and vanilla until pale and creamy. Pour in the milk and cooled chocolate, until blended. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until blended. Pile the frosting on top of each cupcake, forming a volcano shape. *I took a spoon and plopped a glob on top of each cupcake then used a knife to smooth it out onto the cupcake. Get knife wet to help form the volcano sides.* Make an indent in the top. Thin down the raspberry preserves with a little hot water. Spoon the raspberry preserves into the top of each "volcano" allowing it to run down the sides a little. 

*I'm posting this post on the parties listed on my sidebar. Be sure to check them out, there are so many great ideas floating around!*