Valentine's Day Cupcakes

Chocolate Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Been down emotionally. Not sure if its age catching up or due to heat flu. Singapore temperature has been like around 30 degrees and also been feeling down lately eversince my return trip from Europe in December. Have been sick in January the whole month and am still recovering but still feeling abit down, down, down.................  So, thought of perking myself up by making valentine cupcakes. I did marshmallow fondant a few days ago and have it stored in a container. Then realize that I didn't do well shaping the bears. They are of different size but would like to play more on the dough so that next time, I can shape a better looking bears.

Makes about 12 medium Cupcakes
Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups cake flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 113 gm butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 tsp vanilla essence
• 1/4 cup apple sauce

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees and Line muffins tin with cupcakes paper.
2. Microwave bowl: microwave 2/3 cup chocolate chips + 1/4 cup milk. Stirring occasionally till chocolate melted into the milk. Stir until smooth and well incorporated.
3. Medium bowl: sift cake flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
4. Large bowl: Electric whisk - beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
5. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
6. Add vanilla essence and cocoa mixture. Beat until combined.
7. Add flour and apple sauce, beating until just combined. 
8. Divide batter evenly among lined cups, 3/4 full.
9. Bake for about 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean with a few crumbs.

NB: the cake looks and feels light when baked. Love its texture.

Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting:

Ingredients:

• 113 gm butter, softened
• 60 gm Philly Cream Cheese  (put only 1/4 blocked cos don't like it too cheesy)
• 2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 tsp whipping cream

Directions:

Medium bowl: Electric Mixer - cream butter for about 2 minutes then add in cream cheese. Beat until combined.  Add in 1 cup powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Add another 1 cup + vanilla essence and continue to beat until smooth. Lastly, add in 1/2 cup sugar and beat till smooth. The frosting should feel very heavy and hard to beat by now. 

Using a large star tip, pipe frosting onto cupcakes and decorate in anyway your desire.