Nutella Cupcakes

Nutella is such an awesome food group.  Yes, I'm calling it a food group, because it deserves at least that.  These cupcakes are great, and easy because the Nutella is the frosting!  This recipe used up the last of the Nutella I had in my house, and despite shedding a little tear while using the last drop, these were totally worth it.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.  In a medium bowl beat the butter, oil, and sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy and light.  Add the eggs, vanilla and beat until smooth.  PS I used apple sauce instead of the oil.

In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt.  Add to the butter mixture and beat until just combined.  The batter will be really thick.

I had some peanut butter chips, and thought they couldn't hurt so I folded those in.

Place batter into cupcake lines sprayed with non-stick spray.

Scoop around a teaspoon of Nutella on top of each cupcake.

Swirl with a toothpick until it looks like marble.  Bake for 25 minutes until springy to the touch.  Remove from the pan to cool then enjoy!

One of my biggest issues with regular cupcakes is that you have to wait around an hour to really enjoy them because they have to cool enough to frost.  These cupcakes eliminate that problem all together.  They're a tasty Nutella treat!  

Happy long weekend and Labor Day!

Nutella Cupcakes

Serving size 12 cupcakes

1/4 cup butter, room temperature

1/4 cup vegetable oil (or apple sauce)

3/4 cup sugar

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 3/4 cup flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup Nutella, at room temperature

1/2 cup peanut butter chips

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.  

In a medium bowl beat the butter, oil, and sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy and light.  

Add the eggs, vanilla and beat until smooth.  

In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt.  

Add to the butter mixture and beat until just combined. 

Fold in peanut butter chips. *optional

Place batter into cupcake lines sprayed with non-stick spray.

Scoop around a teaspoon of nutella on top of each cupcake.

Swirl with a toothpick until it looks like marble.  

Bake for 25 minutes until springy to the touch. 

Cool and eat up.

Spice Cake & Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

This was the last dessert I made in Dallas, I made it for a co-worker to celebrate their birthday.  I'm glad to say this was the last thing my Dallas kitchen and I produced.  It was light and tasty, and the frosting was the best!

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and butter a 9 inch square cake pan.  Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices.  Beat butter, brown sugar, and vanilla together with an electric mixer.  

Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Then beat in the applesauce.

At a low speed mix in the flour mixture until just combined.  If you want to add walnuts, add here.  I chose not to.

The batter will look a little curdy and uneven, but it'll come out perfect.  Spread the batter evenly in the pan and bake until golden brown around 35 minutes.  

Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, run a knife around the edges of the pan to loosen then invert onto a plate.  While you're making the frosting, let it cool completely.

To make the frosting beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla together with an electric mixer.

Sift confectioners sugar and cinnamon over the cream cheese mixture and beat until fully combined.

Spread frosting over the cooled cake.  Every time I've used apple sauce in a baked good I've really enjoyed it.  It makes the cake so soft, and keeps it that way for days, so if you have any leftover it'll still taste great.  This is the first time I've tried spice cake, and will say it's similar to carrot cake.  Just like carrot cake the frosting makes it even better too.  Enjoy!

Spiced Cake & Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Adapted from Gourmet.com 

Cake:

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce

1/2 cup walnuts *optional

Frosting:

5oz cream cheese, softened

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup confectioners sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and butter a 9 inch square cake pan.  

Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices.  

Beat butter, brown sugar, and vanilla together with an electric mixer. 

Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Then beat in the applesauce.

At a low speed mix in the flour mixture until just combined. 

If you want to add walnuts, add here. 

Spread the batter evenly in the pan and bake until golden brown around 35 minutes.  

Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, run a knife around the edges of the pan to loosen then invert onto a plate.  

For the frosting: beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla together with an electric mixer.

Sift confectioners sugar and cinnamon over the cream cheese mixture and beat until fully combined.

Spread frosting on cooled cake and enjoy.