White Chocolate Raspberry Cupcake

My friends LOVE the Red Velvet Cupcake, but they needed some white or vanilla flavoured cupcakes for their wedding to complement the decadent milk chocolate wedding cake being served.  So, I created something that would be the perfect pairing - a White Chocolate Raspberry Cupcake.  It was a huge hit!  For this summery treat you'll need... 

• White Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water)
• Buttermilk (how much? Whatever amount of water you're suppose to add to your mix)
• 4 ounces of White Chocolate (melted)
• 1/2 cup finely chopped Raspberry Flavoured Craisins
• 1 - 8oz package of Cream Cheese (room temperature)
• 1/4 cup of Butter (room temperature)
• 2 teaspoons of Vanilla
• Icing Sugar
• Garnish:  Fresh Raspberries

Here's the recipe...

Step 1: Sort of follow the directions on your White Cake Mix. Start by preheating your oven and add the oil and eggs...but DO NOT add the water.

Step 2: Replace all of the water your cake mix calls for with Buttermilk.  Mix the ingredients together until it is smooth.

Step 3: Melt down the 4 ounces of White Chocolate and be careful not to overheat or burn the chocolate.  Mix the melted chocolate into your batter until fully incorporated.

Step 4: Now, that your batter is nice and smooth, stir in 1/2 cup finely chopped Raspberry Flavoured Craisins.

Step 5: Spoon the batter into your cupcake liners and bake as directed on the package.  Once they are done baking, let them cool completely.

Step 6: Now it's time to make the BEST part of this cupcake...the cream cheese icing!  Beat the Cream Cheese and Butter together until fully incorporated.  Add in the vanilla and slowly add in icing sugar until it tastes the way you like it.  Once it's as sweet as you like it, make sure that your icing is mixed well and is smooth.

Step 7: Icing time!  I always top my cupcakes with HEAPING amounts of icing, so you may want to double your icing recipe.  To ice these I used a piping bag and tip #1M.  Then, I topped it with a fresh raspberry.  Finito!

Happy Faking!

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Chocolate Raspberry Cupcake

When I think of Easter I think of chocolate and fresh berries.  This delicious cupcake combines the best of both worlds - raspberries and chocolate!  Who wouldn't want to find this delicious treat next to their Easter basket?  What a treat!  For this chocolaty spring delight you'll need...

• Chocolate Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water)
• Store bought Vanilla Icing 
• Store bought Chocolate Icing 
• 1/2 cup + 1/3 cup of Raspberry Jam
  
• Butter (room temperate...around 1 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional) 
• Garnish (optional): Fresh Raspberry

And on to the steps to create deliciousness...

Step 1: Follow the directions of your Chocolate Cake Mix - from preheating your oven through to adding the eggs, oil, water, etc.  Add 1/2 cup of Raspberry Jam.  Mix together the batter until smooth.  Spoon the batter into your cupcake liners and bake as directed on the package.  Once they are done baking, let them cool completely.

Step 2:   For your icing you'll need to make two different batches  - a chocolate icing and a raspberry icing.  For the chocolate icing mix together the chocolate icing and around 1/2 cup of butter on high until smooth. As per usual, give your icing a taste and if it's too buttery for your liking, add in some icing sugar.

Step 4: Now on to your raspberry icing.  Mix together the vanilla icing, 1/3 cup of Raspberry Jam and around 1/2 cup of butter on high until smooth. To thicken it to the right consistency add in some icing sugar.

Step 5: You can ice these cupcakes a few different ways with the two icing flavours, but I chose to create a swirl effect.  To do this you'll need a piping bag and the tip of your choice.  Holding your icing bag sideways, put in your chocolate icing so that it only fills half of the side of the bag.  Then, carefully turn the bag over and full the other half of the bag with the raspberry icing.  When you squeeze out the icing it will swirl together  - FUN and YUM.  To top off your cupcakes you could use a fresh raspberry to top it off.

Happy Faking!

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