Friday, February 13, 2009

Chocolate Sour Cream CupCakes

Cupcakes/cup cakes are actually smaller or mini cakes or rather dessert cakes.They are sometimes confused with Muffins.Muffins are quickbread or yeastless bread made in smaller portions.Muffins are generally categorised as breakfast/snack food wheareas cupcakes are for dessert.Some people say that the difference between them is based on frosting as cupcakes are frosted,while muffins are not.But this is untrue.Basically,smaller cakes baked in muffin pans are cupcakes.they can be frosted or not,made in grased or lined muffin tins.Also the cupcake batter can be beaten well at high speed several times unlike muffins where the dry items are just stirred to combine.Also as per DianasDesserts,though both may have the same ingredients,the ratio of ingredients also makes them different.As for the timing of eating them,I do not mind cupcake for breakfast or anytime especially if they are chocolate.

These are chocolate sourcream cupcakes I found in the Taste of Home website.This time again experimentations rules the forte.I never thought I would be experimenting too much,when I went for my title. I did not have any chocolate .So I thought of using cocoa powder mixed with melted butter,but look what there was just 1 tbsp of cocoa.Now,I am never a person to give up -so I used Nestle Hot cocoa mix to make my chocolate.They turned out perfect I must add.

Ingredients:
Unsalted Butter: 2 tbsp

Unsweetened Chocolate: 2 oz or
OR
6 tbsp cocoa/cocoa mix whisked in 2 tbsp of unsalted and melted butter.

All PurposeFlour: 1 cup
Baking Soda: 1/2 tsp

Sugar: 1 cup
SourCream: 6tbsp
Water: 1/2 cup + 2tbsp extra
Egg: 1
OR
EnerG egg: 1
(prepared by blending 1.5 tsp of EnerG powder with 2 tbsp of warm water)

Frosting:(optional)
IcingSugar

Preparation:
Melt butter and chocolate in a microwave for a few seconds and whisk well.Keep aside and let it cool.If you are using cocoa/cocoa mix like me,then melt 4 tbsp of butter (2 +1+1 tbsp where 2 tbsp butter is used in the recipe and remaining 2 tbsp for making chocolate)and then whisk in cocoa powder to obtain a creamy smooth mixture.To obtain 1 oz of baking chocolate,the ratio is 1 tbsp of butter/oil/shortening and 3 tbsp of cocoa.Melt butter and whisk in cocoa till smooth.Cocoa mix has sugar in it and so the mixture resembles semi sweetened chocolate.If ypu are using chocolate itself simply melt butter(2 tbsp) and chocolate in the microwave

In a small bowl,whisk together flour and baking soda.In a big bowl,beat together sugar,sourcream,water,vanilla and egg/Ener G egg.If using enerG egg,make sure you add 2 tbsp of more water to the batter.Then add in the flour mixture.Beat well to incorporate flour.Here it is better you beat it in clockwise direction as it makes the cake look airy and light.I got this tip thanks to Cham when she made her Vanilla cake and it worked for me.Add the chocolate mixture and beat well for 2-3 minutes.

Pour the batter into lined muffin cups and bake in a preheated oven at 350F for 20-25 minutes or until a tester/toothpick inserted at the centre comes clean.Cool for 10 minutes and then remove the cupcakes from the pan to the wire rack to allow them to cool completely.

You can frost them or leave as such.I just sprinkled icing sugar on top of few.They were spongy and moist and perfectly sweet.This again is my entry to Egg Replacement Event:Egg Replacer Powder.Thanks Again Madhuram.

On a different Note:

First A Joyous Note: Dear PG of MyKitchenStories has passed the refreshing Lemonade Award.Also other esteemed blogger Ramya of RamyasKitchenCorner has also awarded me the same.I have been honoured earlier with the same award from dear friends Priya and Sunanda as well.You can see the award in the side bar.HEARTY THANKS to all the four esteemed and refreshing bloggers for thinking of me for passing it on.I would love to pass it to all the delicious bloggers who visit me and take time to comment on my dishes.I want to name all of you girls,but time constraints limit me.

Then a ShortBreak: This could be my last post from New Jersey,USA.I am returning to Bangalore,India this weekend and rest of the blogging will be from there after a very short break.I still have drafts in my folder and events to take part so I may schedule some before leaving though I am not sure I will be able to visit all the yummy and delicious blogs for atleast few days.Please bear with me and thanks for all your support.

32 Comments:

Cham said...

Have a safe and wonderful trip to India! That is a delicous cupcakes with sour cream! Congrats on ur awards.

Varsha Vipins said...

Your space has got so many recipes for me to try..:)Thanks a ton dear..the cakes looks utterly delicious..:).I have a doubt..will thick cream or whipping cream work?Also how many days we can store this?need to keep in fridge?
Have a safe n nice trip..:)

Uj said...

Looks yummy... Have a safe trip dear.. take care and do come back soon

jayasree said...

Cupcakes looks delicious and perfect.

Have a safe trip.

Anonymous said...

The photographs looks tempting as always...it will taste divine i can guess..
Have a safe Journey and yes,Bangalore is the most lovely place to live..cheers

Divya Kudua said...

Muffins or cupcakes,I don't mind eating them anytime of the day!!Chocolate and sour cream sounds like a perfect combo..love the pics too..fantastic!!

Priya Suresh said...

Cupcakes looks gorgeous, Have a wonderful trip to India n enjoy ur holidays..

lubnakarim06 said...

Cup caked look gorgeous and yummy. Now i know what you are going to get on Blogger meet... Welcome back... Waiting desperately to meet you....

Unknown said...

oooohhh i miss you dear any way happy to know that you are going back to our beautiful garden city. have a safe and nice journey cupcakes looks so yummy that too with my fav, chocolate

soma said...

That pic is beautiful:-) Hey we used to live in NJ....

have a safe trip home.
Soma(www.ecurry.com)

Finla said...

I love dianas place it has so much good recipes.
You choco cake looks so yumm and congrats for the lemanade award.

Beyond Curries said...

I've sent you a mail without reading this post. I thought you were moving to India permanently after reading the comment in my place. Sorry!

The cupcakes are so moist Sweatha. I've not used sour cream in baking yet. I think that's especially a necessary addition in some recipes which doesn't have eggs. Thanks for the entries dear. Have a safe and fun trip.

Varsha Vipins said...

I cant thank you enuf dear..you are sooo sweeeeeeeeeeeeeett..:)

Manju said...

those cupcakes looks delicious...!! have a fun trip!

Usha said...

Have a safe and fun trip to India! The cupcakes look delicious...congrats on all your awards :-)

Yasmeen said...

Love the cupcakes.You must be very excited to return home.If have any spare time please do trail back for my
token of gratitude

Mahimaa's kitchen said...

enjoy your trip and have fun. cupcakes looks cute and yum!!

Vibaas said...

sourcream in cupcakes..mmm..i'm all for it. those look cute and delicious. Have a wonderful trip, dear!

Sunshinemom said...

beautiful cupcakes and a nice way to end the New Jersey files:) Butterflies in the stomach? Relocating is a tough decision and only few take it but on the brighter side all my friends who relocated (only a handful of course!) are very happy with their decision. They do cite a few cons but mostly pros! Welcome home:) Happy journey, and take care!

PG said...

thanks for clarifiying about the difference! I used to wonder sometimes if there is s difference.
I love this recipe with chocolate an sourcream. And that last picture really shows how perwefect they turned out, makes me want to bake one round too.
BTW, one question - tell me when you have time, no hurry- what is the fat content of the sourcream you get in the US. I think the sour cream there is the equivalent of something else here.

Swapna said...

Happy journey & Enjoy:) wonderful fluffy cupcakes..

Nithya Praveen said...

Hey have a wonderful trip.The cupcakes looks wonderful....congrats on ur award too.

Suganya said...

Cup cakes looks so moist and delish!. Nice recipe. Looks so good. YUM! Congrats on ur awards....

Belated Valentine's Day wishes!!!

Thistlemoon said...

The sound really good.I love the combination of sour cream and chocolate, so the flavor is more tangy than sweet.

Purva Desai said...

Can I have a bite...cup cakes looks irresistible

DK said...

oh...thats why dint see u around in the recent days..So u in India huh! Have a great trip, njoy ur break and get back soon :) will miss ya

The cupcakes are cool :) so pro. Love the brown color in them. Am yet to try this egg substitute...shud start soon

Sanghi said...

Perfect cup cakes.. amazing choco!! Yummy :)

Beyond Curries said...

Sweatha when you find time later check out the recipe. I think you have written 4 tbspn butter instead of 2 tbspn.

Navita (Gupta) Hakim said...

those cupcakes look good and I am sure thay taste as delish...

Radhika Girish said...

wowie........ looks yumm......... i'm surely gonna try it . thanks :) .

Anonymous said...

thanku for the amazing recipe i tried it and it was veryy nice

i just need the same recipe w/o chocolate for making plain vanilla cupcake

can u pls help me

tina b said...

hey very good recipe
it came out brilliant

however, i tried the same recipe skipping the cocoa part
it came our horrible, it did not rise and was very hard too

can u pls give me a recipe for vanilla cake which is so spongy like this cake

Thanks for visiting my Blog

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