Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes Recipe

By Lisa Maliga copyright 2017-2023

The combination of dark chocolate and tart yet sweet raspberries is classic. I’ve slightly revised this recipe to include golden sugar and organic coconut sugar rather than plain granulated sugar. Also, golden ‘tinker dust’ has been added on top of each frosted cupcake to give it a distinctive glittery appearance.

CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS:

1/3 cup dark chocolate, finely chopped [3 oz] https://amzn.to/42Sy1a8

1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder https://amzn.to/3JQ25KU

3/4 cup hot water

3/4 cup all-purpose flour https://amzn.to/3nsTVAt

3/4 cup granulated sugar, https://amzn.to/3G0m3Bl  

For more flavor and/or health benefits, try: 2 parts golden sugar https://amzn.to/3lV1MXb and one part organic palm sugar https://amzn.to/3TYTM47

1/2 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt https://amzn.to/3KmkzEn

1/2 teaspoon baking soda https://amzn.to/3nnx5Kz

6 tablespoons virgin coconut oil [3 oz] https://amzn.to/3ZCwXVe

2 eggs [room temperature]

2 teaspoons [fresh] lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste [or extract] https://amzn.to/3lYMGzZ

Makes 12 cupcakes

Oven temperature: 350 Fahrenheit/177 Celsius

CUPCAKE DIRECTIONS: Place the chopped chocolate and cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Pour the hot water over the mixture and whisk until smooth. Refrigerate mixture for 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. The rack should be in the center. Line a standard-size muffin pan with liners. Sift the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl; set aside. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs thoroughly. Whisk the virgin coconut oil, eggs, lemon juice and vanilla extract into the cooled chocolate. Add the flour mixture and mix until smooth. There will be small lumps from the raspberries in the dark chocolate. DON’T OVERMIX! Fill cupcake liners ¾ full. Bake until the cupcakes are set and just firm to the touch, 17 – 19 minutes. Cool the cupcakes in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove the cupcakes from the pan and place on the wire rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.

ROCKIN’ RASPBERRY FROSTING

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature [6 oz]

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar [confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar] https://amzn.to/3K3ype3

3 Tablespoons heavy cream

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste https://amzn.to/3lYMGzZ

1/4 cup seedless raspberry preserves https://amzn.to/3KngZtJ

3 drops neon pink https://amzn.to/3nx2Ot4

Bright Gold Tinker Dust [edible glitter] https://amzn.to/3ZuJ9Hr

FROSTING DIRECTIONS: Beat softened butter on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes until completely smooth and creamy. Add the confectioners’ sugar, cream, and vanilla extract with the mixer running. Increase to high speed and beat for 1 minute. Add the raspberry preserves and beat until thick and creamy, about 5 full minutes, so it’s very soft and fluffy. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes. I used a Wilton’s 1M piping tip.

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Jumbo Chocolate Chip & Ruby Chocolate Chunk Cookies Recipe

Two halves of a jumbo Chocolate Chip & Ruby Chocolate Chunk Cookie

Copyright 2022 by Lisa Maliga

This recipe is similar to the big, 6-ounce Levain-style cookies, but there are distinct differences. My recipe calls for ruby chocolate, the cookies are slightly smaller at four ounces, and I used three different types of sugar to enhance these distinctive cookies’ flavor. I also used a good amount of Neilsen Massey’s pure Madagascar Bourbon vanilla extract. I had a difficult time refraining from eating the batter because it was so tasty!

Below is a photo of my newest addition: a Kitchen Aid 5-quart stand mixer with a white bowl. I also have the original shiny bowl. Two bowls are better than one, especially when making cupcakes and frosting. Even better, I invested in a flex-edge beater attachment which thoroughly creams the sugar and butter in seconds. I only had to scrape the bowl once. If you have a 4.5 or 5-quart Kitchen Aid stand mixer, I highly recommend this helpful, time-saving attachment. Kitchen Aid flex edge beater attachment link: https://amzn.to/3K99aGl

New 5-quart Kitchen Aid stand mixer with white bowl and lots of chocolate and other baking ingredients.

JUMBO CHOCOLATE CHIP & RUBY CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIES RECIPE

Oven temperature: 400 degrees Fahrenheit/205 degrees Celsius

Bake time: 11-12 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, cold, cut into cubes
2 large eggs, cold
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup organic coconut sugar
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons corn starch
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
10 ounces chocolate chips
3.2 ounces chopped ruby chocolate bar OR ruby chocolate callets
1/2 cup chopped walnuts [optional]

Equipment:

Hand or stand mixer
Mixing bowl
Sifter
Measuring cups/spoons
Whisk
Spatula
Cookie/ice cream scoop
Large baking sheet[s]
Baking/cooling rack
Parchment paper/Silpat
Kitchen scale

Instructions:

  • In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, corn starch, baking powder and salt. Whisk until combined.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter, and sugar until it’s well-combined, which will be a paste-like texture. You can also use a hand mixer or mix with a whisk or wooden spoon.
  • Add the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. Blend well.
  • Stir in the dry ingredients until well blended.
  • Mix in the chocolate chips, ruby chocolate chunks [or chips], and walnuts.
  • Form into balls approximately 4 ounces [120 grams]. Place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat. Refrigerate for one hour.
  • Preheat oven.
  • The cookies should be at least 3 inches apart. Bake on center rack for about 11-12 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet for about 15 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

NOTES:

This recipe made a dozen [12] 4-ounce cookies.

Store cookies in an airtight container.

If serving the next day, bake in oven/toaster oven for about 5-6 minutes at 350 degrees.

You can also heat in the microwave for about 30 seconds.

Chilling the dough in the refrigerator before baking helps to keep the cookies higher so they won’t spread a lot. You want dry dough. Mix minimally but mix enough to ensure that everything’s well incorporated.

Adding nuts makes cookies healthier, more rustic looking, and helps hold the shape better. If you don’t like walnuts, substitute pecans, macadamia, cashews, etc. Or don’t use any at all.

Watch the recipe video!

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Peppermint Hot Chocolate Recipe & Video

By Lisa Maliga, Copyright 2021

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

There is something very comforting about having a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night. When I was a child, I had two options for drinking hot chocolate: Swiss Miss packets with mini marshmallows, or the “homemade” type heated up in a saucepan with milk and a scoop of Nestle Quik powder. No sugar was added as that was the main ingredient, followed by cocoa and some anti-caking agents and preservatives. Topped with a generous swirl of Reddi Wip, it was the best hot beverage to sip while I sat on the couch and read.

The Swiss Miss hot cocoa packets might have been labeled as “rich chocolate”, yet they always contained stale mini marshmallows. Hot water was poured into my pink porcelain mug. Even if my mom mixed it for me, there were always little clumps of unmixed cocoa powder.

This year, I decided to try genuine European hot chocolate. Thick, but not quite like chocolate pudding. Unlike those packets, this delicious hot chocolate contains rich melted chocolate with a touch of cocoa powder and pure vanilla. I adore the Chocolove brand which contains 55% cacao and real peppermint oil. As always, use whatever brand you prefer and if it isn’t peppermint flavored, just add peppermint extract.

Garnishing with candy canes makes it look more festive. Peppermint Hot Chocolate is perfect for celebrating the Christmas season.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Ingredients
Excellent chocolate bars make for excellent hot chocolate!

PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:
2 ounces peppermint dark chocolate  https://amzn.to/3dFqMd7

5 ounces whole milk

½ Tablespoon coconut palm sugar https://amzn.to/3rLBlnq

1 teaspoon cocoa powder, sifted https://amzn.to/3lPk4Wv

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract https://amzn.to/33fpuUr

1 mini peppermint candy cane, crushed https://amzn.to/3rOtzch

1 large peppermint candy cane for stirring https://amzn.to/3ECNGxW

8-ounce mug OR two 4-ounce mugs

DIRECTIONS:

Crush mini peppermint candy cane and set aside.

Chop up the peppermint chocolate.  

In a small saucepan over medium heat, pour in the milk and sugar. Using a whisk, mix constantly once it heats up to a simmer.

Add the cocoa powder and the chopped chocolate. Cook for about 4 minutes, whisking constantly. If using vanilla extract and/or peppermint extract, add that just before you’re ready to pour. Put a candy cane into your mug and pour in your hot chocolate.

Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and top with the crushed peppermint candy cane.

SUGGESTIONS: You can also use your favorite chocolate bar and just add a dash of peppermint extract as the last step so as to retain the flavor.

By all means substitute a plant-based milk if you wish. However, it won’t be as thick as it is when made with whole milk.

I made the whipped cream by pouring 8 ounces of whipping cream into a chilled 16-ounce mason jar and shaking it for about 10 minutes. Then I stirred in a teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon of powdered monkfruit sweetener.

Enjoy your hot chocolate and have a very Merry Christmas/Holiday Season!

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Dessert Cookbook Series: A Beginner’s Guide ~ New Boxed Set

By Lisa Maliga, copyright 2020

 

Includes 3 full-length dessert cookbooks and more than 50 recipes.

Dessert Cookbook Series TransparentLearn how to make many different desserts, no matter what your level of baking experience.

It’s easier than ever to bake decadent chocolate cupcakes and brownies. Get helpful tips about decorating and coloring cupcakes, recommended equipment, and loads of resources. Original and tested step-by-step recipes include Blueberry Brownies, Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes, Blue Velvet Cupcakes, Peppermint Swirl Cupcakes, and many more tantalizing treats.

The book was written by someone who went from baking box mix brownies and cupcakes to discovering the joy of baking from scratch. With a photograph of each finished treat, the reader will be inspired to try baking these delicious recipes.

Baking Chocolate Cupcakes and Brownies: A Beginner’s Guide contains 50+ color photos.

Bake beautiful and delicious French macarons in your own kitchen. This collection of tried-and-tested recipes allows bakers to create these tasty and colorful confections.

The author details what equipment and ingredients you need, offers numerous helpful tips, resources, and shares more than 30 recipes for you to whip up an array of elegant French delicacies.

Full of inspiring color photos, Baking French Macarons: A Beginner’s Guide, offers everything you need to bake stunning macarons that will impress anyone who tastes them.

Some of the flavors include Cinnamon Caramel, Tangy Orange, Key Lime, and Acai macarons.

Ruby Chocolate: A Beginner’s Guide includes ten original and tested recipes using authentic ruby chocolate. From healthy granola bars to tasty ruby chocolate chip cookies to decadent fudge, chocolate lovers will be inspired to create their own desserts. The reader also receives gift packaging ideas, and many resources.

Available exclusively at Amazon.

U.S. link: Dessert Cookbook Series: A Beginner’s Guide

U.K. link: Dessert Cookbook Series: A Beginner’s Guide

CA link: Dessert Cookbook Series: A Beginner’s Guide

3bookadvert

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orange spice cupcakes by lisa maliga

Chocolate Orange Spice Cupcakes Recipe & Video Tutorial

By Lisa Maliga
Copyright 2017-2018

This type of cupcake is appealing to those who love a strong citrusy spicy combination. If you’re looking for an autumn, Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas treat, here’s a winning flavor. 

chocolate orange spice cupcake baked by lisa maliga
Chocolate Orange Spice Cupcake

CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS:

1/3 cup dark chocolate, finely chopped [Green & Black’s Maya Gold] [3 oz.]
1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
3/4 cup hot water
3/4 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
6 tablespoons virgin coconut oil [3 oz]
2 eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons [fresh] lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla

Makes 12 cupcakes

Oven temperature: 350 Fahrenheit/177 Celsius

DIRECTIONS:

Place the chopped chocolate and cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Pour the hot water over the mixture and whisk until smooth. Refrigerate mixture for 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. The rack should be in the center. Line a standard-size muffin pan with liners.

Sift the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl; set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk the eggs thoroughly.

Whisk the virgin coconut oil, eggs, lemon juice and vanilla extract into the cooled chocolate. Add the flour mixture and mix until smooth. DON’T OVERMIX!

Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full. Bake until the cupcakes are set and just firm to the touch, 17 – 19 minutes. Cool the cupcakes in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, and then remove the cupcakes from the pan and place on the wire rack to cool completely.

ORANGE SPICE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

FROSTING INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup [6 oz.] unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar [confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar]
3 Tablespoons heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin spice blend*
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 ½ teaspoons orange extract
12 drops orange color

FROSTING DIRECTIONS: 

Beat softened butter on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes until completely smooth and creamy. Add the confectioners’ sugar, cream, vanilla extract, and spices with the mixer running. Increase to high speed and beat for 1 minute.

Pipe onto cooled cupcakes.

Green & Black’s Maya Gold chocolate has a spicy orange flavor that pairs beautifully with this frosting. I used it once before as I’d run out of regular dark chocolate and was impressed with the way the flavor came out in the cupcakes even a day after they’d been baked. If you can’t use this particular brand/type of chocolate, that’s okay, use whatever’s available to you. However, if you want it to have an orange spice flavor, add 1/4 teaspoon orange extract and about 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin or apple spice blend to your cupcake batter.

* make your own pumpkin spice blend

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

Amazon Kindle link: Baking Chocolate Cupcakes and Brownies: A Beginner’s Guide

3dBakingCupcakes3

VIDEO

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Baking Chocolate Cupcakes and Brownies: A Beginner’s Guide–An Excerpt

Baking Chocolate Cupcakes and Brownies: A Beginner’s Guide

by Lisa Maliga, copyright 2017=2019

My second cookbook has just been released after months of testing various chocolate cupcake and brownie recipes. It was so much fun baking these sweet treats and learning more cupcake decorating techniques. For example, I tried the swirl method and was able to come up with this:

peppermintswirlcupcakes2
Peppermint Swirl Cupcakes

I’ve also learned how to make my own sparkling sugar and the various ways to core cupcakes. So, if you love chocolate goodness, keep on reading!

Chapter 1 ~ About the Ingredients

Your cupcakes and brownies can look and taste better than any found in a bakery. What you put into your batch of cupcakes is up to you and your budget. Are fresh eggs and butter available to you? I’ve been able to use farm fresh eggs in many of my batches of cupcakes and brownies. Those hens are free ranging and while kept in a coop at night, during the day they amble around several acres of pasture and eat natural food from the ground as well as organic chicken feed.

Use whatever ingredients you have in your pantry, cupboards and refrigerator for your first batches of brownies and/or cupcakes. Don’t invest a lot of money in ingredients or equipment if you only plan to make the occasional dessert. But once you make brownies and cupcakes from scratch, get creative and try new brands of chocolate, butter, or any of the other ingredients to learn if you can taste a difference. Oftentimes you’ll find some sweet [I couldn’t resist that pun] deals on the ingredients at your grocery store so you’ll spend less money on finding out what you like to add to your chocolaty desserts. Baking isn’t just science–it’s also art.

As the recipes in this book are all about using the most natural ingredients, as well as the best tasting, virgin coconut oil is recommended. This tropical oil is easier to use in oil form rather than solid. Coconut oil is coconut butter at temperatures below 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on the weather, I can let it sit in the sun to melt or if it’s hot enough then measuring it is always easier. Virgin coconut oil gives cupcakes natural moisture and you won’t taste the extra coconut.

Amazon Kindle: Baking Chocolate Cupcakes and Brownies: A Beginner’s Guide

Amazon Kindle UK: Baking Chocolate Cupcakes and Brownies: A Beginner’s Guide

Paperback edition: Baking Chocolate Cupcakes and Brownies: A Beginner’s Guide

3DBakingcupcakes book&Phone

Easy Fudgy Mint Walnut Brownie Recipe

By Lisa Maliga, copyright 2017-2019

Here it is, a scrumptious fudgy brownie recipe that’s loaded with minty flavor and LOADS of walnuts. It’s easy to make, you don’t need a mixer, and it’s a wonderful dessert.

fudgymintwalnutbrownies3CU
Fudgy Mint Walnut Brownies

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup [113 grams] unsalted butter, cut into pieces

4 ounces [120 grams] mint chocolate, coarsely chopped

11/4 cups [250 grams] granulated white sugar

1 teaspoon  pure vanilla extract OR vanilla bean paste

2 large eggs, room temperature

½ cup cocoa powder [sift into flour]

1/2 cup [65 grams] all purpose flour [sift]

1/2 cup [65 grams] chopped raw walnuts

1 teaspoon peppermint extract OR approx. 20 drops of peppermint Essential Oil

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit [165 degrees Celsius] and place the rack in the center of the oven. The 8 or 9 inch square baking pan can be buttered [use the butter wrapper] or sprayed with a non stick cooking spray.

In a glass or stainless steel  bowl, placed over a saucepan of simmering water, melt the butter and chocolate. Remove from heat and whisk in the bowl containing the sugar. Pour in the vanilla extract. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. The batter will be smooth. Stir in the premixed and sifted cocoa powder and flour. Add the peppermint extract or essential oil. Lastly, add half the chopped walnuts. Pour the brownie batter evenly into the prepared pan. Add the rest of the walnuts on top.

Bake for about 35-40 minutes. Rotate pan midway through baking. The brownies will be done when they start to pull away from the sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center of the brownies will come out with a few wet crumbs. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.

TIPS:

I suggest sifting the flour and cocoa powder together first. Presifted flour also makes your brownies a bit smoother and easier to mix.

If using pure peppermint essential oil, make sure it only contains mentha piperita. That’s the Latin name for the plant. Genuine peppermint essential oil is very concentrated that’s why you measure by drops, not grams or teaspoons. The brand I used in this video is the real deal and I bought it on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V5C97LK

3dBakingCupcakes3This recipe is from my book Baking Chocolate Cupcakes and Brownies: A Beginner’s Guide.

To watch my video, just go here:

French Macaron Baking Adventures, Part 5: More Chocolate Ganache Macarons

By Lisa Maliga, copyright 2016

My quest for baking the perfect chocolate macaron continued. They needed to have feet but also be smooth and shiny. By adding less cocoa powder, my second bath was easier to mix. The egg whites “aged” overnight, about 12 hours. But I slightly underwhipped them, which was a first. After the macaronnage, I added the batter to the piping bag and closed the top with a rubber band to avoid spillage. It worked, although by the time I piped the last shell, the remaining batter was threatening to ooze out of the top. 

chocolatemacs2dry
Just piped chocolate macarons

The macarons didn’t set up right away – I had to wait about 30 minutes. Later, I realized that both trays should have rested for at least 45 minutes.

This time, the oven temperature was lower, 300 degrees. I’e since learned that chocolate needs to bake around 350 degrees. Also, the baking time should’ve been longer. One tray was in the oven for 19 minutes and the other 20. Afterwards, I realized they could’ve baked another two minutes longer in both cases because I wasn’t able to easily remove them from the parchment paper. However, using 20/20 hindsight, chocolate macarons should bake for about 12 – 14 minutes at 350 degrees.

While both trays showed macarons with feet, they were in the small side and the shells were hollow. At first, the macs looked like they’d have smooth, glossy tops, but after they emerged from the oven they deflated a bit and had irregular shaped tops.

chocolatemacs2shells
Out of the oven — a bit underbaked

Unlike the first batch of chocolate macarons, the texture was lighter and airier – not like brownies or biscotti.

The chocolate ganache filling was easy to make. I chopped up a Valrhona bar [71% cacao content] trying not to eat any of it. Note: next time I’ll try the Valrhona 46% feves! For 50 seconds, the heavy cream went into the microwave and when poured over the chunks the melting began. I whisked it for a few strokes and then added the room temperature butter and vanilla extract. Soon it was successfully mixed and sampled. Way better than the first batch. Nothing like using a high quality chocolate bar, heavy cream and imported butter! Yes, I could taste the difference between this and the previous batch made with chocolate chips. The richness was so apparent.

chocolatemacs2stack
Chocolate macarons with ganache filling

Due to being underbaked, the shells stuck to the parchment and I used a spatula to remove them. Some of them were really cracked and messy looking but I managed to salvage them into sloppy and unphotographable macs. They tasted good when consumed that day. However, the next day and the day after that the macarons tasted much better.

NEXT WEEK: More adventures as I bake scrumptious French Vanilla Bean Macarons.

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