Valentine's Day Cupcakes

As everyone already knows, Valentines Day is only 10 days away. So of course, in honor of the holiday of love, I HAD to make some cupcakes. I had a pack of cute cupcake wrappers that came with matching heart shaped toppers. So I made a yellow cake with chocolate frosting. The frosting recipe was a new one that I found in Cuisine at home Magazine. It turned out okay at first, but I thought it was extremely bitter (I like super sweet frosting), so I added a bunch more sugar. I honestly don't know how much more, because I didn't measure. So I just kept tasting it after each addition. Eventually I was satisfied. Here's the recipe for it:


Ingredients

1/2 stick unsalted butter

3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
pinch of salt
2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
1/8 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp instant coffee granules
1 tsp vanilla extract


1. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat.
2. Stir in sugar, cocoa, and salt. Mixture will be thick and grainy.
3.Combine heavy cream, sour cream, and instant coffee in a large measuring cup, mixing until smooth. 
4. Gradually add cream mixture to chocolate until blended and smooth. (add more sugar if needed). Cook until sugar has dissolved and the mixtures is smooth and hot to the touch, 6-8 minutes. Do not boil.
5. Turn off heat, add vanilla. Cool icing completely until spreadable.


Here is the end result:

I have a few more dessert ideas that go along with the Valentines Day theme, so check back here in a few days and there shall be more!