Today was our volunteer day. We spend Wednesdays working at Sophia's Heart here in East Nashville. It is a wonderful organization that provides transitional housing for people who have lost their homes through unfortunate circumstances and also has an outstanding arts program for young people in the neighborhood. Check out their web site for information. It is a very worthwhile organization that could use lots and lots of help, especially financial.
After our day at Sophia's Heart, we stopped by our daughter's home to visit with the new baby who is 3 weeks old today. He is so alert and strong and of course, very handsome. He already holds his head straight up when you put him on your shoulder. (He's gonna be a bruiser.) Everyone is doing great and we are so thrilled to have him in our family. They don't stay babies very long so we try to enjoy every moment with them we can. It's great to have 5 out of 6 grandsons living within a few minutes driving time. We are soooooooo lucky to be able to live in the same town with them (and their parents too).
After we got home this evening, I didn't know if I wanted to sit down and write an entry for my blog. Grandma was tired. When I walked through the kitchen, turned on the light and saw the cake plate of yummy cupcakes sitting there, I realized that the recipe needed to be shared. Dan made some coffee, I got myself a cupcake and started to write. This recipe is fantastic and you really should try it as soon as possible! Here is what you need:
Cupcakes
1 devils food cake mix (I use Aldis)
1 small package instant chocolate pudding
4 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
24 Rolo candies, unwrapped
Icing:
1 stick butter (softened)
1/2 cup Nutella
2 cups powdered sugar
1 TBSP milk
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Makes 2 dozen (24), so line pan(s) with cupcake papers accordingly.
Mix all the ingredients for the cake in a large mixing bowl at medium speed on your mixer. Mix thoroughly, but do not over mix the batter so cupcakes will be light and not tough. Fill each cupcake paper 2/3 full of batter. I use a heaping 1/4 cup measure and that is just about right. Now, push one Rolo candy into the center of each cupcake. As the cake bakes, it will cover the Rolo, though you may have a slight dimple in the middle of the cupcake. That's okay, you will cover it with frosting. Bake for about 20-23 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean.
Let the cupcakes cool while you prepare the frosting.
To make the frosting, set your mixer on medium and mix the softened stick of butter until light and fluffy. Add 1/2 cup Nutella and mix until it is all incorporated and light and fluffy. Add one cup of powdered sugar at a time and mix until incorporated. Icing will be rather stiff, so add just a little milk a few drops at a time until the icing is of spreading consistency.
You can spread the icing with a knife. I decided to pipe it in the center of each cupcake because I don't like tons of icing. It also looks pretty that way. If you like a lot of icing, you might want to double the icing recipe. To pipe, cut the corner off a gallon zip lock bag, place a piping tip of your choice through the corner, fill the bag with icing and pipe whatever design you want on each cupcake.
These are DELICIOUS!!!!! The cupcake recipe is off the Aldi's devil's food cake mix and it is super moist and chocolaty. I decided to add the Rolos to the middle for a "little surprise" and because I really, really like Rolos. When you bite into the cupcake, the rich little chocolate nugget in the middle is awesome and the ooey gooey caramel in the middle of the candy is the bomb with the texture and flavor of the cupcake!
Our 8 and 5 year old grandsons were here to help make these cupcakes (and great help they were). They got to pipe icing on their very own cupcakes which made them very happy indeed. It's the little things you know. They declared them excellent cupcakes and we had so much fun making and sharing them. As for Dan, well he has certainly eaten his fair share! I think they are a hit.
Give this recipe a try. I so enjoyed eating my cupcake while I typed. What a fabulous ending to a great day. Sigh.
Everyday Donna
Things to Remember:
Live, love, laugh and eat cupcakes!
