· LINDT EXCELLENCE 70% Cocoa
· LINDOR Milk Chocolate
· Time: 45 to 60 minutes
· Level: Ambitious


CUPCAKES:

• 1 bar (100 g) Lindt EXCELLENCE 70%
• 1 1/3 cups (160 g) All-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (50 g) cocoa powder
• 1 tsp (5 ml) baking powder
• 1/2 tsp (2 ml) baking soda
• 1/2 tsp (2 ml) salt
• 2 eggs, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup (125 ml) vegetable oil
• 1 cup (225 g) granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup (50 g) light brown sugar
• 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
• 1 cup (250 ml) buttermilk
• 12 Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffles

CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:

• 1 bar (100 g) Lindt EXCELLENCE 70%
• 1/2 cup (125 ml) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/4 cup (25 g) cocoa powder, sifted
• 1/4 tsp (1 ml) salt
• 1 1/2 cups (185 g) icing sugar, sifted
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) whipping cream, straight from the fridge

CUPCAKES:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases.
2. Roughly chop the chocolate and set aside
3. Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt, then set aside
4. In a separate bowl, beat together the eggs, oil, sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy; beat in the vanilla extract
5. Add dry ingredients alternating with buttermilk; fold in the chopped chocolate; divide the batter between the prepared tin, filling about three quarters full
6. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean; while cupcake is still warm, press an unwrapped Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffle into the center of each cupcake
7. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack

CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:

1. Chop up the Lindt EXCELLENCE 70% cocoa bar; place in a heat-proof bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water for 5 minutes or until the chocolate is melted and can be stirred; cool completely
2. Beat the butter with an electric mixer until light and fluffy
3. Beat in the cooled, melted chocolate and salt until smooth
4. Beat in the icing sugar until blended, then beat in the cream until blended
5. Chill in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes or until thick enough to spread
6. Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip; pipe frosting on top of each cupcake