This post is courtesy of our contributor Cheryl of Moms & Munchkins…With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I’ve been busy in the kitchen brainstorming new dessert recipes. Since I’ve been trying to make healthier food choices this year, I’ve assigned my husband as the official taste-tester. If he gives the final product two thumbs up, then I know you’ll love it too! Today’s sweet treat is a Secret Crush Cupcake. Have you ever had a secret crush on someone? I think we all have! Someone you admire from far away but you’d never think to approach them and strike up a conversation. Well, no need to hide from these cupcakes – dig right in!
What makes them so secret? I’ve hidden a Hershey’s Kiss in each and I’ve added a tasty ingredient to both the brownie base and the icing. Any guesses on what it is? Strawberries! Chocolate & strawberries are perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Secret Crush Cupcakes Recipe:
Brownie Base (makes 12 cupcakes):
- ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed firmly)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 5 large strawberries, cleaned and mashed
- 12 Hershey’s Kisses, unwrap these in advance
Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly spray muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. Stir together the melted chocolate and butter. Add the brown sugar and stir until well mixed and no longer lumpy. Stir in eggs, one at a time. Stir in vanilla. Add flour and stir until well blended. Add mashed strawberries and stir just until mixed. Pour into muffin tins and bake for 25 minutes. As soon as they come out of the oven, press a Hershey’s Kiss down into the middle of each cupcake. Let cool in the muffin tin for 20 minutes.
Chocolate Strawberry Buttercream:
- 1 cup vegetable shortening
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 7 teaspoons water
- 6 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tablespoon meringue powder
- 2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted
- 5 large strawberries, cleaned and mashed
In a large bowl, beat (low speed) water, shortening and vanilla until well blended. Add confectioners’ sugar and meringue powder and beat (medium speed) until blended. Add melted chocolate and mix well. Add mashed strawberries (mash them really well so they are almost a jam consistency) and beat until well mixed. If the icing is too runny for decorating, add more confectioners’ sugar until the desired consistency is reached.
I hope you enjoy these as much as we did…yes, I snuck a little bite too.
For more sweet recipes, visit our special Valentine’s Day page.
Thank you Cheryl for the yummy recipe, I can’t wait to try these!
- Unlocking Sublimation: A Guide to Sublimation
- Sublimation Oven or Cricut Mug Press – Which is Best?
- HTVRONT Auto Heat Press Product Review
- Cricut Maker VS Cricut Maker 3 – Which Cricut Machine is Right for you?
- Cricut Glue Gun Product Review
- How to Sublimate Frosted Glass Can Tumblers with the Cricut Mug Press
- How to Sublimate Tumblers with the Cricut Mug Press
- How to Sublimate on Wood With or Without a Sublimation Printer
1 comment
That sounds amazing! But I love strawberries. 🙂 Thank you for linking up to Party Time and we hope to see you again next week!