Chocolate Cupcakes with Ganache Filling and Meringue Cream

⏳ Time

1 hour

🥕 Ingredients

🍽️ Servings

Description

The chocolate batter uses boiling water, resulting in a crumbly 'cake' typical of American baking. The cream is also traditional – once very popular 'seven-minute frosting': meringue made from egg whites and sugar. Anyone who has ever tried meringue knows that egg whites + sugar is very sweet. The egg whites are heated to a convincing temperature, so there's no need to worry about salmonella. The recipe uses cream of tartar – it helps whip the egg whites into a stiff foam. If you are confident in your ability to whip egg whites, it is not strictly necessary.

Ingredients

Wheat Flour - 1 cup
Cocoa Powder - ½ cup
Salt - ½ teaspoon
Activated Baking Soda - ½ teaspoon
Sugar - 2 cups
Butter - 3.2 oz
Egg white - 1 piece
Vanilla extract - 1½ teaspoons
Water - ½ cup
Liquid dark chocolate - 2 cups
Heavy cream - ½ cup
Cream of tartar - ¼ teaspoon
Egg white - 2 pieces

Step by Step guide

Step 1

Bake the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners. Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat the butter with the sugar, add the egg, and mix well. Add the vanilla, half of the dry mixture, hot water, and the remaining dry mixture, mixing after each addition. Let it sit for about 5 minutes to cool and thicken, then add the chocolate. Pour the batter into the molds and bake for about 22-25 minutes. Check for doneness with a wooden toothpick. Cool in the molds.

Step 2

Make the ganache: Bring the cream to a boil, add a cup of chocolate, and stir until smooth. Allow to cool completely.

Step 3

Make the frosting: Using a hand mixer, combine a third of a cup of water, 1 cup of sugar, egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt. Place the bowl with the frosting over a pot of gently simmering water (this is a double boiler) and beat until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and continue to beat for about 2 minutes until the frosting cools. Use a spoon to create a well in each cupcake and fill it with ganache. Top with frosting.