"Cake Mix is Cupid" Devil's Food Cupcakes w/ Homemade Chocolate Ganache

This Valentine's Day, I thought I would share this amateur-friendly recipe so you can make something special for the honey in your life, whoever they may be (hey, even yourself!) The great thing about this recipe is that it makes you look like a professional! I even recruited some help from one of my favorite books of all time (more info below.) And just in case you were wondering -- ganache is an icing made from melted chocolate. I like it because not only does it make anything and everything look fancy, but it's richer than regular old bottled icing -- making you completely satisfied after just one cupcake.

Servings: about 15 cupcakes

What You'll Need:

• 1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix
• Yup, cake mix.
• Yea, I said it.... cake mix.
• Hear that? That was more free time for you to hang with your Valentine. Pick your battles. You're welcome.
• I used Pillsbury brand (found at Target.)
• Oil & Water (however much it asks for on the cake mix box)
• Egg Whites (however much it asks for on the cake mix box)
• By using the whites instead of the whole egg, you save calories and the cakes come out amazingly fluffy and light.
• 1/2 a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 a large bar of dark chocolate 
• I used Ghirardelli's brand, 60% Cocoa (can find on the baking aisle)
• 1/2 a stick of unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (or imitation vanilla, if thats what you have)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Optional: Decorations
• I highly recommend the ladies at Cake Craft Shoppe in Sugar Land, TX. There's nothing better than supporting small hometown businesses. I always stock up at their store when I'm home, and they just opened up an online store! (click here.)
• Note: All decorations on these cupcakes, including the rose gold cupcake papers, came from CCS!



No worries -- They'll look still look great without decorations!

• Another online option: BakeItPretty

The Step-by-Step:

1. Bake the cupcakes following the directions on the cake mix box.
2. Let cool for at least 30 minutes before turning your attention to the ganache.

For the ganache/decorating:
(Adapted from "Organic and Chic" by Sarah Magid)

1. Chop the dark chocolate and the butter into small pieces.
2. Place all the ingredients (chips, chocolate, butter, vanilla, cream, salt) into a saucepan (Amateur translation: a small soup pot.)
3. Place the pan on the stove, turn the heat on to medium, and stir with a whisk immediately -- do not stop! 
4. When the chocolate has melted (about 30-45 seconds,) take the pan off the stove.
5. Give the ganache a quick mix again with the whisk to make sure everything's melted & combined.
6. When you're ready, take a cupcake, flip it over, and dip the top into the ganache. Repeat until all cupcakes have been "iced." Dunk them all a second time and set aside.
7. After about 10 minutes, decorate! (if you're using glitter, put the cupcakes in the fridge for 20 minutes so you won't have a paintbrush/ganache fail.)

I hope you have the most romantic Valentine's Day filled with love.

This is certainly a great start ;)

xoxo n&a

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A Recommendation/Review:

One of my first (and still favorite) baking books is "Organic & Chic" by Sarah Magid. Filled with great recipes, easy-to-learn techniques, and even cute family photos/drawings from her kids, this book is a must if you're interested in baking with health in mind. She even has a section on "reformed junk food" like Ding-Dongs and Twinkies, using organic ingredients. For this recipe, I took her ganache recipe and halved it -- I also used a little bit more vanilla, and used a 60% cocoa instead of a "at least 70%" (I don't like dark chocolate to be crazy strong.) Conclusion: I highly recommend you add this book to your library.