Really Raspberry

If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm still learning a few things about baking.  And I'm not very graceful.  But, I'm a lot of fun to watch! 

Tonight was no exception.  I had decorating tips and bags flying while working on these beauties!

I've been swamped all week with school but am never too busy to whip up some birthday cupcakes!  My friend, Lauren, moved away from Santa Fe (to Jemez Springs) a few months back and I miss her.  She comes to visit periodically and we have been to see her once (she did our amazing pictures for last year's Christmas card).  Today, is her birthday and tomorrow I get to visit with her.  Her request was chocolate with raspberry. So, off I went to Annie's eats after scouring through Pinterest and finding nothing that sounded good enough.  Here's what I came up with:


Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cupcakes
Ingredients:
For the cupcakes:
9 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
8 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup strong coffee (or water)
1/2 cup whole or low-fat milk

For the filling:
Seedless raspberry jam
For the raspberry truffles:
2 pints fresh raspberries
5 oz. semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam
1/3 cup heavy cream

For the frosting:
16 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
6 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
Pink icing color (optional)

Directions:
To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350° F.  Line two cupcake pans with paper liners.  In a small bowl sift together the cocoa powder, cake flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.  Mix in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl between additions.

In a liquid measuring cup, combine the coffee and milk.  Add half of the dry ingredients to the mixer and mix on low speed just until incorporated.  Stir in the coffee-milk mixture and mix until combined.  Add in the remaining dry ingredients, again mixing just until incorporated.  Divide the batter evenly between the cupcake liners, filling the cups about 3/4 full.  Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once the cupcakes have cooled completely, heat some raspberry jam just enough to allow for easy stirring and smooth texture (I do about 20-30 seconds).  Transfer the jam to a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip, poke into each cupcake and pipe a small amount inside.

To make the raspberry truffles, rinse fresh raspberries and transfer to a baking sheet lined with paper towels.  Gently shake the berries around to remove excess water.  Place the chocolate and jam in a small heatproof bowl.  Bring the cream to a boil in a small saucepan.  Remove from the heat and pour over the chocolate and jam.  Let stand for about 3 minutes.  Whisk together gently until smooth.  If any unmelted lumps remain, microwave a few seconds and whisk again.  Let the ganache cool a bit until it has thickened slightly (enough to be piped through a pastry bag).  Once it has reached the right consistency, transfer the ganache to a pastry bag and pipe into the center of the clean raspberries.  Refrigerate at least 15 minutes to set.

To make the frosting, place the butter and jam in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Cream on medium-high speed until well incorporated, about 2 minutes.  Sift in the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.  Tint with icing color as desired.

To finish the cupcakes, frost with the raspberry jam buttercream and top with a few of the raspberry truffles.  

I don't know what went wrong, but i have this sneaking suspicion that I over mixed the batter.  The centers were a little limp and even though I didn't over fill the cups, the cake spilled over onto the pan.  None the less, I filled, frosted and ganashed those puppies.  Oh and don't substitute any shortening in this recipe.  I managed to make a STIFF frosting.  That all tastes AMAZING!  And I'm not really such a huge fan of raspberry but, boy, oh boy does this work!