Friday, July 29, 2011

Chocolate Cupcakes w/ Toffee Crunch


Happy Friday guys!

I'm so glad the weekend is upon us!  I've still got to work tomorrow, but I've got Sunday and Monday off, so it's not too bad.

Any plans for the weekend?  We're probably going to be lazy - I know I'm going to be catching up on some sleep! 

Anyway, I thought I would end the week with a sweet treat!  It won the last bi-weekly poll and was a winner in our house too!  The original recipe had some Caramel Frosting to go with it - but I wasn't in the mood to fool with frosting and just kept them simple with some chocolate ganache and toffee bits. 

And don't forget to vote in this week's bi-weekly poll - I'm obviously in the mood for something chocolately!




Ingredients:
Adapted from Bakers Royale's recipe

1 cup flour
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons hot coffee
1/2 cup Heath toffee bits



Chocolate Ganache:


2/3 cups dark chocolate
2 tablespoons whole milk



In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, and salt.

Add the butter, eggs, and vanilla and beat on medium speed for one minute.  Stir in hot coffee.

Beat for 20-30 seconds until the batter is smooth. The batter will be slightly on the thin side. 

Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.  Divide the batter evenly among the liners. Bake 18-22 minutes just until a toothpick inserted into a few of the cupcakes comes out clean. Set the pan on a rack to cool completely.


To make the ganache, place the dark chocolate and milk in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds.  Stir until combined and smooth (you can heat again in 15 second intervals if chocolate isn't completely melted).

Once cupcakes are cooled, dip the tops into the ganache and sprinkle desired amound of toffee bits on top! 

These were delicious!  So simple and just enough of that toffee crunch to bring these to another level!  I think Andy had one of these for breakfast everyday for the past week - so we know he liked them!

Have a great weekend guys!

43 comments:

  1. Oh, God, chocolate and toffee; amazing combination!

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  2. These look good I think the ganache is a nice touch. Enjoy your weekend.

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  3. I don't think this is a better marriage then chocolate and toffee...except chocolate and more chocolate.

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  4. Lovely cupcakes. Extra toffe crunch for me please.

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  5. Awesome cuppies, can I have a few?
    Have a nice weekend.

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  6. Looks gorgeous.. Loved the topping

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  7. These look amazing! Enjoy your weekend of relaxing:-)

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  8. great idea on the topping, these do look wonderful

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  9. Beautiful cupcakes. The toffee crunch sounds so delicious. I would love one of these right now. Yummy!

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  10. I have some plans to be lazy this weekend, too. And did you do a redesign? I hope it wasn't too long ago and I'm just unobservant--love it! Cupcakes look yummm.

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  11. mmmmmmm Plans for this weekend??? How about a Rascal Flatts concert :) yep yep Im excited! Love these cupcakes!

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  12. Chocolate? Toffee? Oh, yeah! These are gorgeous, not to mention a fabulous flavor combination!!!!

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  13. Looks so yummy!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a note! Hope to see you often.

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  14. Finally Friday! The best plan for the weekend is to be lazy! Nutting beats that after a long weeks work, but I am sure I’ll get bored and whisk something up in the kitchen again.
    I love your chocolate cupcakes! How many cupcakes do you get out of this recipe? Since my hubby complained about getting too “fat” I need to cut down on the quantities.

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  15. I want that ganache! These sound so good. Toffee and chocolate is a great combo, these sound delicious!

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  16. Looks wonderful! I'd like a cupcake. :-)

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  17. The topping is so great, esp with toffee bits.

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  18. These look terrific! I voted! I hope you have a great weekend and enjoy your Sun & Monday...

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  19. uhm...wowwwww? I think that sums this up! Delicious recipe, utterly delicious, you have such a lovely blog and i love the idea of a voting system thang :)

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  20. Love to have a bite into it... Those toffee pieces at the top make it sooo special :)

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  21. Yum yum! Sounds delicious with the toffee crunch topping. Love the new site design! Have a great weekend. :-)

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  22. Toffee crunch? yum! I've been a bit behind on blog reading, so this is the first time I've noticed your new header. love it! So cute!

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  23. Ending the week with a sweet treat is ALWAYS a good idea! Especially one with toffee crunch...sounds delicious!

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  24. Delicious! I love toffee, and when I saw these cupcakes on my blog reader...I was already drooling! They look so good! I hope you have a great weekend, my friend!

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  25. If these passed the "hubby ate them for breakfast test," they're definitely a must try. :)

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  26. Oops... I meant your fiance!

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  27. Wow, that looks delicious, will have to try this soon,you've been buzzed!

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  28. Thank goodness these won the vote, the cupcakes look scrumptious! Is that a new banner you have up there, Peggy? It's just too cute!

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  29. Amazing treats! Can't wait to make them :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

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  30. Chocolate and toffee! Yummy... Sound fabulous, Peggy! Thanks for sharing... Bookmarking this one!

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  31. Yum, yum, yum! This looks fantastic! And I'm envious of your day off tomorrow :) Enjoy it! Buzzed

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  32. These are really beautiful and simple cupcakes, I love that there isn't a ton of frosting on them. Perfect with the toffee crumble!

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  33. I love what the addition of a little coffee does for chocolate. Of course, I love chocolate in any style....

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  34. Love that you used chocolate ganache and toffee chips instead of regular frosting. These sound quite tasty!

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  35. The cupcakes looks super perfect and that addition of coffee is great. Looks YUM!

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  36. great sweet, love the ganache parired with toffee crunch, yummy!!

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  37. What a delicious cupcake recipe! I usually do my ganache with fresh cream, but this lighter version looks equally delicious! Thanks for sharing.

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  38. Oh my gosh those look so awesome! You can't beat chocolate cupcakes!

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  39. This looks great. I prefer crunchy top to a frosting.

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