Valentine's Cupcakes II

These are the rest of the cupcakes that I made for Valentine’s Day for my loved ones…a wonderful day spent together just eating and watching movies. I had a wonderful time with the loved ones despite all the baking and the fun time spent on piping the cuppies !

Chocolate Cupcake With Vanilla Icing

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1½ cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
4 ounces (1 stick), room temperature
1½ cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
½ cup milk

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners and set aside.
3. Sift together the cocoa powder, flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in a bowl.
4. Using a mixer, preferrably with paddle attachment, beat together the butter and sugar about 2 minutes until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time until mixed.
5. Stir half of the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, then add milk. Finally stir in the other half of the dry ingredients.
6. Divide the batter into a prepared cupcake/muffin tin with liners. About 3/4 fulll.
7. Bake about 20 minutes, or until set. Let cool completely before icing.

Vanilla Frosting:

Ingredients:

Confectioners Sugar ( About 4-5 cups ), Sifted
Pure Vanilla Extract
1-2 Tbsp. Milk
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup vegetable shortening

Directions:

Cream together butter and shortening in mixer, with paddle attachment on medium for about 2 minutes.
Add 1/2 cup powdered sugar and beat until smooth, Add another 1/2 cup. Add about 2 tsp or more vanilla, to taste.
Add gradually the remaining sugar and add milk until you reach the consitency you desire. A little bit thicker for piping would be best.

Continue to mix on medium until smooth.

Using a large star tip, pipe frosting onto cupcakes.