CHOCOHOLICS, UNITE!

I made chocolate cupcakes. I'm sharing the chocolate love with the recipe:

1 box Devil's Food cake mix
1 small box instant chocolate pudding
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup warm water (I USED COFFEE yummmmm)
4 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl on medium to medium high for 3 minutes. Batter will be thick. Divide into cupcake tins, should make 24 good sized cupcakes. Bake in the 350 degree oven for 20-24 min (toothpick test!)

While the cupcakes are baking--make the frosting:

1 8 oz package cream cheese at room temperature

1/4 C butter (1/2 stick) at room temperature

3 1/2-4 C powdered sugar
1/2 C cocoa powder

1-2 teaspoons milk/creamer/liquor/coffee (options are endless, I used hazelnut creamer) 

Blend cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time. Add in cocoa powder until blended. You may need to add a little bit of milk or creamer (I had hazelnut creamer...it worked fine), depending on the consistency you want. My frosting was nice a creamy/fluffy texture. You also can add a little bit more cream cheese, if you want it to have more zip to it (or cool whip. also a fun addition). If you're going to add the milk/creamer/additional liquid to the frosting, I would go ahead and use 4 cups of powdered sugar. Have fun with the recipe! Especially when it comes to frosting--you find the best combos through experimenting. Once the cupcakes are cool, frost generously with frosting! 

Then EAT! They are REALLY good (I had two).

Hips, say thank you to David Lebovitz

Want wow factor for your next girls night or family gathering?? Dying to put on a few extra pounds to "fill out" that perfect dress? Want your friends to drool and clap like newborns?? MAKE THIS CAKE! It's called Banana Cake with Mocha Frosting. Yes.

Holy Cow. You had me at banana chocolate--then add the mocha ganache frosting and candied salted peanuts?? Life changing. I initially saw the recipe in David Lebovitz's new cookbook "Ready for Dessert"- I took a picture of the title of the cookbook and the name of the recipe for this specific cake because the picture and description were mouth watering.

Many dreams of banana chocolate gooey deliciousness later, my work lovelies suggested a last hurrah baking, wine and cheese extravaganza at my friend Jen's house the weekend before I moved. 

The four of us (no picture was taken the night of) kept getting more and more excited as the cake came together. The smells from the kitchen did not disappoint. Meet the ladies:

L to R: Jen, me, Emma, and Dawn

The recipe is long and the picture looks complicated--it's NOT a difficult recipe! The banana cake is similar to banana bread and the frosting is just melted chocolate and butter! Looks professional. Tastes AMAZING. Lots of layers of flavor. Dude. Click on this link to the LEGAL copy of the recipe and get baking!! Your mouth will thank you. You can work out later to make up for it.

Photos of the cake taken by the lovely Dawn Mitchell!