My dad’s birthday is this week, so among the 5 billion other baked goods and snacks I made or am going to make this week for Halloween, I made him some birthday cupcakes. As I was going through my Bible (not that bible, my bible, aka “the book”) looking for a recipe, I realized that I had never made regular ol’ chocolate/chocolate cupcakes. Maybe because I prefer vanilla and its a subconscious thing? No idea. So I decided dear old dad would get chocolate cupcakes (Billy’s Bakery recipe) with chocolate buttercream. Its so basic, yet its such a favorite and it really is delicious and comforting (despite my allegiance to vanilla).
I already knew what my gimmick with these was going to be. You see, my dad’s a train collector and has a huge setup of model trains. Initially I was looking for some Thomas the Tank Engine stuff, thinking it’d be really funny, but I didn’t find anything I wanted to use, it was mostly cake decorating supplies or party favors that were way too big. So in my web travels I discovered these choo-choo train cupcake wrappers, and I figured the perfect thing would be to get those and use them. They’re really beautiful and unique, yet appropriate and don’t involve what usually amounts to a 5 year olds birthday party favors (sorry, Thomas, but its true). Lyns, being the sweetheart she is, knew I wanted to use them and despite my being really busy and having a crazy week and forgetting to order them, sent them to me anyway! Thank god for her!
So here we are. Happy birthday dad!
BILLY’S BAKERY CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
Ingredients:
- 2 sticks unsalted butter (8 ounces)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (7 ounces)
- 1 cup light brown sugar (7-¾ ounces)
- 4 large eggs (one at a time)
- 6 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate
- 2 cups cake flour (9-¼ ounces)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup buttermilk (room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions:
- Cream butter, granulated sugar and light brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer.
- Add 4 large eggs (one at a time) and beat each until thoroughly combined, then add chocolate (chocolate should be melted, then cooled for approximately 15 minutes before being added)*. Add and alternate cake flour plus baking soda with buttermilk (room temperature) plus vanilla extract.
- Place cupcake paper into each cup of 2 muffin pans (each pan yielding 12 muffins). Then fill each cup with 1 leveled off scoop of an ice cream scooper.
- Bake at 350 degrees in regular oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until tester comes out clean.
BASIC CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM
Ingredients:
- ½ cup solid vegetable shortening
- ½ cup butter or margarine softened
- ¾ cup cocoa or three 1 oz. unsweetened chocolate squares, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups (approx. 1 lb) sifted confectioners’ sugar
- 3-4 tablespoons milk
Directions:
- Cream shortening and butter with electric mixer. Add cocoa and vanilla.
- Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry.
- Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Keep bowl covered with a damp cloth until ready to use.
- For best results, keep icing bowl in refrigerator when not in use. Refrigerated in an airtight container, this icing can be stored 2 weeks. Rewhip before using.
The cupcake recipe makes 24-27 and the frosting recipe frosts, oh… about 70 million. Nah not really. The cupcake recipe made about 27 cupcakes and I had enough frosting for all of them plus a few more. I frosted ’em and slapped some little train toppers that I made right on top. All aboard the cupcake train! Wow, that was cheesy.
*If you only have unsweetened cocoa powder, not baking chocolate, and still want to make these cupcakes, you can. For every ounce of baking chocolate required, simply use 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder plus 1 tablespoon oil or shortening. Ta-da! If my calculations are correct, which I’m sure they are, that roughly means 6 tablespoons shortening or oil plus ¾ cups of cocoa powder for this recipe. You do not have to melt it together separately. Just add it when it says to add the unsweetened chocolate. Or, alternately, you can just add unsweetened cocoa powder to the dry ingredients. Thats what I did.
Yeah. I’m friggin’ exhausted.
OH! And by the way… BEST. CHOCOLATE. CUPCAKE. RECIPE. EVER.
I'm Marilla. A 30-something artist, hobby baker, home canning enthusiast, gardener, DIY-er, wife, mommy of a baby boy and dog mom (to another baby boy) from New York. 
Aww, this reminds me of that episode of Simpsons when Ralph receives a Valentine’s card from Lisa and he goes, “You Choo-Choo-Choose me?”. So stinkin’ cute.
Haha, aww poor Ralph. 🙂 I never saw that one!
Haha I bet they will 😀
Enjoy!
Spot on with this write-up, I honestly feel this web site needs far more attention. I’ll probably be returning to read more, thanks for the information!
Greetings I am so happy I found your blog, I really found
you by accident, while I was searching on Aol for something else,
Regardless I am here now and would just like to say thanks for a marvelous
post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have
time to go through it all at the moment but I have saved it and
also added your RSS feeds, so when I have
time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the excellent job.
You actually make it appear really easy along with your presentation but I in finding this topic to be really something that I believe I’d never understand.
It kind of feels too complex and extremely extensive for me.
I am having a look ahead to your subsequent post, I’ll attempt to get the grasp of it!
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that
I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing on your
rss feed and I’m hoping you write once more soon!
I read this piece of writing fully regarding the difference of latest and
previous technologies, it’s awesome article.
Hi there I am so glad I found your blog, I really found you by accident, while
I was browsing on Yahoo for something else, Anyways I am here now
and would just like to say thank you for a fantastic post and a all round exciting blog (I also love
the theme/design), I don’t have time to read it all at the
moment but I have saved it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have
time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the awesome
b.
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot about this, like you wrote
the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some pics
to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is
great blog. A great read. I’ll certainly be back.
Valuable info. Fortunate me I discovered your site accidentally, and I am stunned why this twist of fate didn’t took place earlier!
I bookmarked it.
I got what you mean,saved to my bookmarks, very decent internet
site.
Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your weblog?
My blog is in the very same niche as yours and my users would truly benefit from a lot of the information you present here.
Please let me know if this okay with you. Regards!
Wonderful beat ! I would like to apprentice even as you amend your site, how could i subscribe for a weblog website?
The account aided me a applicable deal. I have been tiny bit familiar
of this your broadcast offered bright clear idea
always i used to read smaller content that
as well clear their motive, and that is
also happening with this article which I am reading here.
I enjoy what you guys are up too. This kind of clever work and reporting!
Keep up the excellent works guys I’ve you guys
to blogroll.
Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to assert that I get in fact enjoyed
account your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your augment and even I
achievement you access consistently quickly.
My family all the time say that I am killing my time here at
net, except I know I am getting familiarity all the time
by reading thes nice articles.
As soon as I found this web site I went on reddit to
share some of the love with them.
Hello, Neat post. There’s a problem with your site in internet explorer, could check this?
IE nonetheless is the marketplace leader
and a large section of folks will leave out your excellent writing because of this problem.
Wonderful, what a weblog it is! This webpage gives helpful
facts to us, keep it up.
It’s nearly impossible to find well-informed people about this
subject, but you seem like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks
Zune and iPod: Most people compare the Zune to the Touch, but after seeing how slim and surprisingly small and light it is, I consider it to be a rather unique hybrid that combines qualities of both the Touch and the Nano. It’s very colorful and lovely OLED screen is slightly smaller than the touch screen, but the player itself feels quite a bit smaller and lighter. It weighs about 2/3 as much, and is noticeably smaller in width and height, while being just a hair thicker.
What i don’t understood is in reality how you’re not actually much more neatly-appreciated
than you may be now. You are so intelligent.
You recognize thus considerably with regards to this topic, produced me individually consider it from numerous numerous angles.
Its like men and women are not interested until it’s
something to do with Girl gaga! Your personal stuffs great.
At all times deal with it up!
The new Zune browser is surprisingly good, but not as good as the iPod’s. It works well, but isn’t as fast as Safari, and has a clunkier interface. If you occasionally plan on using the web browser that’s not an issue, but if you’re planning to browse the web alot from your PMP then the iPod’s larger screen and better browser may be important.
There is certainly a lot to know about this subject. I really like all
of the points you have made.
I need to to thank you for this excellent read!!
I absolutely loved every bit of it. I have you book marked to check out new things
you post…
Good blog post. I definitely love this site. Keep it up!|
Great article! This is the type of information that are supposed to be shared around
the internet. Shame on Google for not positioning this put up upper!
Come on over and discuss with my web site . Thanks =)
Wonderful blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News.
Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem
to get there! Appreciate it