Mini Chocolate Cupcakes with Creme Fraiche Recipe

Mini Chocolate Cupcakes with Creme Fraiche will surprise you on how moist and low-fat they are.  The secret to these great chocolate cupcake, is the use of dates in the batter.  Mini Chocolate Cupcakes are ideal for anyone seeking to indulge their sweet tooth with something small and fudgy.

This wonderful mini chocolate cupcake recipe and dinner menu were generously shared with my by Linda Sandberg of Newberg, OR.  Linda belongs to a Gourmet Dinner Group that delights in making wonderful foods that they share together.  Check out Taste of California Dinner (Cioppino Dinner) which includes this recipe.

 

 Mini Chocolate Cupcakes with Crème Fraiche

 

Check here for Basic Rules For Baking or here for Secrets Of A Successful Cake.  Also check out more great Cake Recipes.

 

Mini Chocolate Cupcakes with Creme Fraiche Recipe:
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
18 mins
Total Time
38 mins
 
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Mini Chocolate Cupcakes with Creme Fraiche Recipe
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • 1/3 cup water 
  • 1/3 cup dates, pitted and coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 cup Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder*
  • 1 ounce top-quality 70% dark or bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), coarsely chopped into small pieces
  • 3 packed tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • Vegetble oil cooking spray
  • 1 teaspoon powdered sugar (confectioners' sugar) for dusting
  • Creme Fraiche
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Liberally spray 12 (1/8 cup) muffin pans with non-stick cooking spray (if muffin cups are not non-stick, line sprayed bottoms with rounds of wax paper and then spray the paper).

  2. In a 1-quart heavy saucepan over medium heat, bring water and dates just to a boil; remove from heat and let dates soak for 5 minutes.  Transfer date/water mixture to a food processor and add cocoa powder and bittersweet chocolate pieces; pulsing just once to combine.  Let cool 2 minutes and then add brown sugar, egg, vanilla extract, baking soda, and a pinch of salt; puree until smooth.  Add the flour and pulse just until incorporated.

  3. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, dividing it evenly.  Bake in middle of oven, approximately 15 to 18 minutes, or until a wooden pick or skewer comes out clean. Remove from oven.

  4. Let baked cupcakes cool in the muffin pan on a rack for 10 minutes, then turn out onto the rack (remove wax paper, if using) and let cool completely, right side up.

  5. Just before serving, sprinkle tops lightly with powdered sugar.

  6. Cupcakes can be made and cooled (but not dusted with sugar), 1 day ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.

  7. Serve with Creme Fraiche on the side.

  8. Makes 12 mini cupcakes or 4 servings.

  9. Each serving ( mini cupcakes) contains about 177 calories and 4 grams fat.

Recipe Notes

* May substitute Ghiradelli unsweetened cocoa.

 

Sources:  Mini Chocolate Cupcakes with Creme Fraiche Recipe adapted from Gourmet Magazine, August 2003 and the Epicurious.com website.  Photo by Ramulo Yanes.

Categories:

Baking    Chocolate Cakes    Chocolate Recipes    Dates    Dessert Recipes   

Comments and Reviews

Leave a Reply