The World’s Best Chocolate Cupcakes

I think now is probably a good time to confess. It’s time I admitted it: I am a chocoholic. I know that plenty of people say they love chocolate, but it’s important that you understand- I REALLY love chocolate. Just typing this, my mouth is watering at the thought of chocolate.

I’m also a devoted fan of cake. I’m not too fussy about the type of cake, but obviously chocolate is my ultimate favourite. It has taken me a long time to find a recipe for chocolate cupcakes which lives up to the perfection I want, but I have found one. It is from ‘The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook’, and I should warn you that they are incredibly rich. But they are also the most delicious chocolate cupcakes you will ever have the pleasure of tasting.

The recipe should make 12 cupcakes. Here’s how to make them.

You will need: 100 g plain flour

          20 g cocoa powder

          140 g caster sugar

          1 ½ tsp baking powder

          A pinch of salt

          40 g unsalted butter (softened)

          120 ml whole milk

          1 egg

          ¼ tsp vanilla extract

Start by preheating the oven to 170°. Line a cupcake tin with 12 cupcake cases.

Put the flour, cocoa powder, caster sugar, baking powder, salt and butter in a bowl. Beat until the ingredients are well combined and you have a sandy consistency.

In a jug, whisk the milk, egg and vanilla extract together. Then pour about half into the floury, chocolaty, sandy mixture. Beat this until it is combined.

Pour in the remaining milk mixture, and continue mixing until it is smooth. Use a spatula to scrape in any uncombined ingredients from the side of the bowl.

Spoon the mixture into your cupcake cases, dividing it between the 12 of them.

Bake in the oven for 20 – 25 minutes. You know the cupcakes are done when they bounce back up when they are touched. If you insert a skewer of knife in the center it should come out clean if they are cooked. 

Leave the cupcakes to cool in the tin. When they are cool enough, transfer them to a cooling rack to cool down completely.

When the cupcakes are cold, you are ready for the best bit… the decoration!

For this, you will need: 300 g icing sugar (sifted)

          100 g unsalted butter (softened)

          40 g cocoa powder (sifted)

          40 ml milk 

You might also like to get some sprinkles to go over the icing.

Beat the icing sugar, butter and cocoa powder together. I recommend using a spoon to combine the ingredients a little to begin with; if you go straight in with an electric mixer you will find yourself lost in a fog of icing sugar. Once the ingredients are combined and well mixed, add the milk to the mixture a little at a time. Once all of the milk is incorporated, turn the mixer up and keep mixing until the icing is light and fluffy. The longer you mix it for, the lighter the icing will be.

Once ready, you can either use a knife to spread the icing over the cupcakes, or pipe it on with a piping bag. If you do this, swirl the icing onto the cakes in a circular motion.

Add sprinkles or any other decorations you desire. If it’s someone’s birthday, why not stack the cakes up and pop a candle in each one?  

And there you have it, the world’s best chocolate cupcakes.

Enjoy!

Emma J

Exploring Bath: Alexandra Park

For a while, I kept seeing photos on Facebook of my friends at a park with the most incredible views over Bath. Having lived here for three years, I was a bit peeved that I didn't know where exactly this park was, or even what it was called. After a quick Google search, I soon learned that this mysterious park was in fact Alexandra Park. It is on one of the hills surrounding Bath, and it’s most appealing aspect is basically the views of Bath it offers. It is most definitely my favourite place in Bath now.

The first time I went there was on a spontaneous adventure with my friend Saffron. We left the house at about eight o’clock one evening, not entirely sure where we were going, but just wanting to find this park. We walked along to the bus station in Bath, jumped on a bus and headed up the hill. At the top of the bus, we hopped off, and started walking up a long road called Shakespeare Avenue (which, as a literature student, I love). All that I knew of how to get to this park was that we needed to go up Shakespeare Avenue, and luckily we had looked at a house there when we were looking for accommodation for our second year of uni, so we knew where it was. It is a long road, and it is up a big hill. It hurt. But our excitement drove us on. When we reached the top of the road, the park gates were right in front of us, so it was easier to find than we thought. We followed the path in and around, and soon were met with one of the views. 

I don’t know if it would be that exciting if you don’t live in Bath or have any particular connection to the city, but I think the views are stunning and I really really loved being able to look at it all at once, and seek out my favourite places.

Unfortunately, the sun was setting, so we didn't get to see much of it in the light, but it was so pretty in the dark all lit up.

The next time I went back, we left really early (at half past seven in the morning, to be precise). Instead of getting the bus, we walked up the hill to the bottom of Shakespeare Avenue, and then on up to the park. Although it was more tiring, it meant we enjoyed the views even more. It was also lovely to watch the city coming to life in the morning, and see it in daylight.

If you’re visiting Bath, or even if you’re from here and you have never been to Alexandra Park before, I would definitely recommend a trip up there. From the bus station you can get the number 14 bus up the hill to Shakespeare Avenue, and walk from there (the hill isn't too bad, I promise!)   

Emma J