CHOCOLATE MUD CUPCAKE

Or at least I think that's what it's called! Either that or Mud Choc Cupcake or something.

I'm not sure, all I know is while making this cupcake, I'm imagining a hippopotamus sloshing in the Mississippi River (in case you wonder, no there are no hippos in the Mississippi River. Ugh, it's painful to spell and type Mississippi River twice. Oops, thrice)



Anyway, this recipe goes to the lovely Bavani, who also awarded me with the Nice Matters Award. Thanks, babe. I can't tell you enough how *blushblush* honoured I am.

As you can see, the cupcake doesn't look that good. So I tried to mask the hideousness of the surface by putting some cream cheese on it. But the cupcake is good just plain. As expected, I forgot to bring the recipe book to the office today Bavani, but I think I can recall most of it. Very simple ah!

The ingredients:

300 g choc chips ( I used chopped dark chocolate)
300 g butter (cut it in little pieces while it's still cold and hard and let if soften at room temp)
115 g castor sugar
*115 g self raising flour
*2 tbsp dutch process cocoa powder (I've no idea what dutch process is, and I don't care, just use normal cocoa powder lah!)
5 large eggs

Now, follow me and my trusty assistant with my step by step instructions:

The most important thing about baking is, always start by preheating your oven. For this recipe, set the temp at 160 degrees.



Melt the chocolate and butter using the double boiler technique. Mix them up until well combined and let it cool, at least until you can touch the bowl with your hands.



While waiting for the chocolate mixture to cool, get your assistant to crack the eggs.



She may need your help if she gets the shells inside the bowl of eggs. Have your assistant's bottle of milk within reach so she can take a swig every now and then. Making cake is hard labour, y'know.



Lightly beat up the eggs. Just look how good she is at this. My toddler baker virtuoso.



Put the eggs and sugar in a big mixing bowl and start whisking until the mixture turns pale yellow. At this point, bark a command at your assistant to look at the camera and at least pretend to look like she's enjoying herself.



Chocolate mixture still hot to the touch? Worry not! Kill time by forcing your assistant to do the dishes.



Do not feel the slightest pinch of pity even if she's soaked to her bloomers and her face is dripping with soap water. Keep on clicking the camera like the cruel slave-driver mommy you are.



Chocolate and butter mixture finally cooled? Yeay. Alternately fold in the flour and cocoa powder in the sugar and egg mixture. Don't understand what I'm jabbering about? It means, stir in flour, and mix, stir in flour, then mix. Kapish? Then put the choc mixture in the bowl and mix carefully.

Note that the assistant got time to kill for a wardrobe change. Well, I can't document this with her topless, can I?

Whoopsie, looks like she needs another wardrobe change! At this point, it'll be too irresistible for the assistant to not lick the spatula.

For hygienic and damage control purposes, it is wise to terminate her service now. But before you send off the assistant to mop the floor or clean the gutters, get her to do one last thing. Since she loves choc chips so much! Look at that concentration! If you wanna be more heartless than you already are, get her to put exactly 10 choc chips in each paper case. It's for her own good, y'know, practice her counting skills.

Okay, now that you've inflicted enough pain and suffering upon your child, be the good mommy you are and fill 2/3 of the cupcake cases in the muffin pan. Bake for 20 minutes.

I'm not surprised the cupcakes don't look too good, especially with the cobbled looking surface, but the taste is simply scrumptious. Very moist and sinful you'll have to ask for the Lord's forgiveness for each bite you take.

For all my wickedness, I had to give away a dozen of the cuppies to my aunties and their children. May the Lord grant me mercy for the evil I have spread around.

Addendum 29th March 2008: I have a confession to make, and some rectification. I'm afraid I've done something wrong the day I made these cuppies. The cocoa powder was not supposed to be sieved together with the flour! It was supposed to be sprinkled on top of the cuppies upon serving! Well, duh, no wonder they looked so horrible!

Padan muka, dera anak lagi :p