It's no wonder why these luscious Chocolate Blackberry Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache frosting caught my attention. Just look at that silky smooth topping! I didn't think it was possible but this cupcake is seductive. It reminds me of those cheesy commercials you see on television for candy that is leaping through waterfalls of chocolate and landing in a bed of berries. You get my drift. It's a romantic cupcake.
What really matters though is taste. A monstrous pet peeve of mine is "food porn" where incredibly decadent desserts make your jaw drop at their sheer absurdity mixed with genius. Then you actually try them, make a screw face, and wonder, "what the heck was I thinking?" They either don't make any sense or come out overpoweringly sugary.
Not this cupcake. No sir.
This cupcake from Pastry Affair is a gentleman. The combination of dark chocolate and blackberries are bold and complimentary. The cocoa is very subtle and balanced while the fruit adds a slight bite to wake you up. In terms of texture, the cake is slightly dense to support the folded in blackberry bits. It has a slight crumble as you peel off the wrapper. The overall flavor is rich goodness.
What puts it over the moon is ganache frosting. This may be my new best friend in the kitchen because it's so easy to make and transport. Regular buttercreams make me nervous because they can slide or get smudged by the slightest contact. Not this kid. This is a helmet of frosting. It holds firmly, has a beautiful sheen, and can be stylized with a simple star-tip.
Other aspects to be appreciated about this recipe is it does not waste the fruit. The cake is mixed with warmed juice from blackberries that have been heated on the stove top. Rather than discard the remains, they are folded into the batter. Brains and beauty? This cupcake is a winner.
This recipe can be served vegan style with the right combination of chocolate chips and milk. I used almond milk because I appreciate it's slight nutty after taste. If you were feeling mighty frisky, you could reduce some coconut milk to thicken and enrich the flavor.
It was a bit of a bear finding these cute paper cup liners but I was smitten on sight. I tried Sur La Table and a local bake shop with no luck. And wouldn't you know it... they were at Michael's! Go figure.
Make sure that you keep a close eye on these cupcakes - they will go fast! Especially with a little fiest eagerly watching for accidents! Nice try handsome-face! I will bake you up some treats soon enough!
The recipe for these Chocolate Blackberry Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache frosting can be found on Pastry Affair.
