My Attempt at Cupcakes (Recipe: Martha Stewart's One Bowl Chocolate Cake)

As mentioned in my last post, I said the next post would be about my cupcake adventure. I know people must think I am crazy since I stated I had never made cupcakes before. What can I say? I grew up in a cookie house!

I made these cupcakes to bring to a friend's house for dessert for her two young children. I started by checking out Martha's site to see what ideas she offered. I settled on "Bug" cupcakes. They are really cute. The ingredients recommended making Martha's One Bowl Chocolate Cake. I cannot say enough about this recipe. I kept taking a whiff as it was in my mixer and the batter just smelled incredible. It has a great chocolate flavor and was very moist. I obviously put the batter in cupcake tins. I should have made half the recipe, but I decided I would use the rest for a recipe I had been wanting to try. Think Bakerella and I will leave it until tomorrow's post.

I found it sort of funny that Martha suggests using the One Bowl Chocolate cake recipe for the cupcakes, but does not reference a baking time or any cupcake related info. I did a quick google search (remember I have never previously made cupcakes - the blondies don't count as that is a very different batter) and determined I should bake for about 18 - 20 minutes. I also read I should not fill the cups all the way; only about 3/4 of the way. Well..... I decided it would be ok to fill them a little more as I was going to be cutting the tops off to make the bugs. Not a bright idea. The cupcakes rose more than I expected and turned practically into muffins!




The tops ended up being too big as bug wings, but I made do. They were truly top heavy!... but oh, don't they look so good?



I did not make my own frosting as I was running short on time. Store bought just does not taste the same and it was not easy to work with so I did not put as much on the bugs as I could have. The recipients did not mind. The kids loved the cupcakes! I only made 4 bugs and then just put a small amount of frosting on two others. As mentioned above, I used the remaining cupcakes for my next project that you will see tomorrow.

In reading through the One Bowl Chocolate cake recipe, I realized it called for buttermilk and I had none. I did not want to go buy any as it comes in a big container and I would never use it. I came across an ingredient substitution list on allrecipes. I read I could just use a Tbsp of vinegar plus enough milk to make a cup (for a 1 cup substitution; note this recipe calls for more). Worked like a charm. Check out the ingredient substitution list here.

One Bowl Chocolate Cake
Adapted from Martha Stewart

Unsalted butter, for pans
1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for pans
3 cups all purpose flour
3 cups sugar
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups warm water (thought this was odd, but followed recipe and it was fine!)
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract


Makes 2 eight-inch square or 3 eight-inch round layers

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter round or square cake pans, and line bottoms with parchment; butter parchment, and dust with cocoa or line cupcake pans with liners.

Into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, sift cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer on low, stir in eggs, 1 1/2 cups warm water, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla until smooth, about 3 minutes.



Divide batter among prepared pans. Bake, rotating once, until tester inserted in center comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes for 8-inch layers, depending on amount of batter and about 18 to 20 minutes for regular size cupcakes.



Let cakes cool in pans on a wire rack for 20 minutes, then remove from pans and cool completely, right side up on rack.

For assembly of the bug cupcakes, please visit Martha's site. You will need frosting, gumdrops, and licorice as additional ingredients. There is a great tip about using a piece of thread to remove the tops. I tried it and it was a great idea. As mentioned earlier, the One Bowl Chocolate cake was superb and I don't know if I could ever go back to a box cake mix. Overall, I thought these were a really cute idea and it made me smile to see the kids eyes light up when I entered the house with this fun treat! Isn't that what the joy of baking is all about???