Pretty, Pretty Princess Cupcakes

Last weekend we celebrated our niece, Makayla's fourth birthday party at our house. Now, anyone who knows Miss Makayla know's that she is a princess, and a Disney Princess-themed party was due. Another great quality about Kay is that she loves chocolate and cake/cake and chocolate. I knew that I needed an extra chocolaty cake recipe and frosting that was fit for any Queen in training. These darling little cakes were so cute and could cure any chocoholics chocolate craving!



Rich Chocolate Cake:
(Adapted from Toll House)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 2/3 cup baking cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup milk

Directions:

1. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in small bowl.
2. Beat butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl. Gradually beat in flour mixture alternately with milk.
3. Spoon 1/4 cup batter into each muffin cup.
4. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely

Sorta-Chocolaty Buttercream Frosting

(Adapted from iheartcuppcakes-retirement cupcakes )

Ingredients:

• 2 sticks butter
• 7 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• pink and purple food coloring. I used Wilton coloring gel in rose and purple.

Directions:

1. Beat butter until creamy, scrape bowl. Add 5 cups of sifted powdered sugar, milk, cocoa powder and vanilla, beat until combined. Add more powdered sugar until you get to the consistency you want (not too stiff so that its hard to pipe)
2. Take out half of the buttercream and using pink food coloring, tint to desired shade.
3. Add purple food coloring, tint to desired shade, to the remaining half and beat to combine.
4. To assemble cupcake—Fill pastry bag with both the pink and purple buttercream frosting, one on opposite side from the other. Do not mix them together to keep the colors separate until you pipe onto the cupcake.

I had extra batter so I decided to bake two small heart cakes for her cake. I piped on frosting with a star tip.