Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! This is one of my favorite holidays for one reason. My Grandpa. Now, this man is not sentimental. He's always yelling and angry and mad at the world. But, every year he drives to my house while my sisters and I are at work or school and he leaves us Valentines. Usually a flower of some sort and a heart shaped box of chocolates and a card (with money inside because that's what grandparents do).

So in honor of Valentine's Day I've baked cupcakes! "Bananas About You!" and "I Love You Berry Much!" Chocolate cake with chocolate fudge filling and either banana or strawberry frosting. I'm in love. The filling is store bought because I was lazy but they're still amazing!

Cupcakes
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons flour
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup canola oil (I used vegetable oil)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup BOILING water

Preheat the oven to 350° and line a cupcake pan(s) with 12-15 paper liners. (I doubled the recipe and got 28)

Sift together all of the dry ingredients into a large bowl. Add the egg, milk, oil and vanilla and beat together with an electric mixer until combined.

Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the boiling water, mix until just combined but smooth.

The batter will be SUPER watery.  It's unsettling and you'll probably think you did something wrong. You didn't, it's perfect. Check out the picture for proof. Then I use an ice cream scoop to distribute the batter evenly into the liners. The batter is so runny though, you could probably just use a 1/4c measuring cup. If you're making minis use a Tbsp spoon.

Bake in preheated oven for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick tests clean. Remove from oven and cool before filling and frosting. I usually put them in the refrigerator.

Filling
I used Mrs. Richardson's Hot Fudge because that's what I found at the grocery store. They even have a fat free version... which I stayed away from naturally. I just filled a piping bag fitted with an extra large star piping tip and just jammed it into the cupcake... I used to core the cupcakes but they're so moist the corer/spoon/knife (I tried it all) it just got all clumpy. Stab and squeeze method works just fine. Throw them back in the fridge.

Strawberry Frosting (Frosts 15-20 cupcakes)
1 1/2 Sticks of unsalted butter softened
1/2 cup frozen strawberries thawed
2 tsp granulated sugar
(1/4 tsp cornstarch)
1 tsp vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar
pinch of salt

Chop the strawberries in a food processor. Then heat them in a sauce pan with the granulated sugar on m low heat for about 10 minutes until it reduces and thickens up a bit. If it's really REALLY runny add about 1/4 tsp of cornstarch (I did).

Let the strawberry goo cool in the refrigerator.*

While that's going beat the butter until white and fluffy, about 10 minutes.

Once the butter is white-ish add the vanilla and mix until incorporated. Then add about half of the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time mixing until smooth each time. Now as long as the strawberries are cooled, throw them in and mix until smooth. Then continue adding the sugar 1 cup at a time. Throw in a pinch of salt and beat on high for about 10 minutes.

If it's too soupy add more powdered sugar.

Then fit a piping bag with a large tip and add a swirl of frosting onto the completely cooled cupcakes.
*I prepped the strawberry sauce and let it cool before I even baked the cupcakes

Banana Frosting (Frosts 15-20 cupcakes)
1 1/2 Sticks of unsalted butter softened
1 very ripe banana
1 tsp vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar
pinch of salt

Mash the banana completely with absolutely no chunks.

Beat the butter until white and fluffy, about 10 minutes.Then add the vanilla and banana mush and mix until incorporated. Then add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing until smooth. Throw in a pinch of salt and beat on high for about 10 minutes.

Then fit a piping bag with a large tip and add a swirl of frosting onto the completely cooled cupcakes.

Voila! Enjoy.