Chocolate Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Yesterday evening was spent with a bunch of friends, just laughing and dancing and eating and drinking. Then I got to spend all day today with Saul and Charlie. And I cannot think of a better way to spend a Valentine's weekend. And to top it off, we had cupcakes!

Chocolate Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

(Adapted from Bon Appetit)

Makes 10

1/4 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder

1 oz milk chocolate

1/4 cup boiling water

1/4 cup low fat milk

2/3 cup cake flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup canola oil

1 large egg

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line muffin pans with cupcake liners.

2. Combine cocoa powder and milk chocolate in medium bowl and pour the boiling water over. Whisk until mixture is smooth then whisk in the milk.

3. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in another medium bowl.

4. Using an electric mixer, beat sugar, oil, egg, and vanilla in a large bowl until well blended. Whisk in the cocoa mixture followed by the flour mixture. Beat until blended (batter will be thin.) Pour into prepared cupcake cups (fill each half way up) and bake for 15 minutes until a tester inserted into the center of one comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting. (See here for frosting recipe. )