"Priceless" Cupcakes

Serves: 3

Mohammad Wiegand

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

46

Spice

50

Sweetness

50

Sourness

40

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.7

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 cup

Dried Cherry

1.75 cups

All-Purpose Flour

2 tsps

Baking Soda

1 tsp

Salt

1 cup

Sour Cream

Directions:

1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F degrees

2

Line two 2 dozen mini-cupcake pans with cupcake metallic or paper liners and spray with oil spray

3

For the crust: In a food processor fitted with the blade attachment, add the cherries, sugar, cookies and butter

4

Then pulse until it's a paste that sticks when pinched with your fingers

5

Press 1 tablespoon of the crust into the prepared pans

6

For the cupcakes: Sift the granulated sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt into the bowl of an upright mixer fitted with the paddle attachment

7

In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil blend, extracts and eggs with a whisk until fully combined

8

With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry until fully combined

9

With the mixer still on low, slowly add the espresso and stir just to incorporate, scraping the bowl with a rubber spatula

10

Using small ice cream scoop, fill the prepared pans three-quarters of the way full with batter

11

Drop 1 cherry drained of its juice into the center of each cupcake

12

Bake and cool the cupcakes completely; the metallic liners bake for 11 minutes and the paper liners bake for 9 minutes

13

For the frosting: To melt the chocolate, place it in a double boiler over simmering water on low heat for 5 to 10 minutes

14

Stir occasionally until completely smooth and no pieces of chocolate remain

15

Remove from the heat and let cool until lukewarm, 5 to 15 minutes

16

In a large bowl, beat the butter until creamy with an electric hand mixer on medium speed, about 3 minutes

17

Add the sour cream, vanilla and confectioners' sugar, and beat until smooth

18

Add the melted cooled chocolate and beat until creamy and of a desired consistency

19

Fill a pastry bag fitted with a small round tip and reserve for assembly

20

For the chocolate pieces: Melt the chocolate in a double boiler as above

21

Line mold(s) on a sheet tray

22

Using a spoon, fill the mold(s) to the brim with chocolate

23

Place in the freezer and leave for 3 minutes

24

When you take them out, turn your mold gently over a sheet tray

25

The chocolates should come out without too much trouble, but if you find them getting stuck, tap the mold firmly against the counter or flex the mold a little, and that should free them

26

Transfer edible ink that reads "priceless" by pressing the words lightly on the chocolate to adhere

27

Finish by painting a thin layer of gold dust on the edges of the priceless tag

28

To assemble: Generously frost the top of each cupcake with the chocolate sour cream frosting

29

Adorn with priceless tags and sprinkle with chocolate metallic pearls