Chocolate Chip Cupcake Bites

This post comes with mixed emotions - as lovely as mini cupcakes are they tend to hold a sour taste once they have broken your beloved kitchen aid mixer!!!  Hubby has fixed said appliance but she will never be the same again and now requires TLC when in use ... that's not to imply that she never used to get TLC, she just needs more of it now!

Yesterday I was watching a repeat of Cupcake Wars on the Food Network and it made me crave a cupcake.  Being on a 'healthy eating plan' (the 'D' word is taboo in this house!) makes cupcake cravings slightly tricky and after a flick through my cupcake cook book collection there was not a single recipe for a low fat version.  I decided to use a normal recipe and make them in mini cases, the theory being the smaller they are the healthier they will be.  I also replaced the softened butter with low fat spread, a step too far in my book!  There is just no substitute for that butter flavour.

Chocolate Chip Cupcake Bites
100g butter, softened
100g caster sugar
2 large eggs
100g SR flour
100g plain chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 150C.  Line mini muffin pans with paper cases. Place the butter, sugar, eggs and flour in a large bowl and beat together until just smooth.  Fold in the chocolate chips.  Spoon the mixture into the paper cases.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 mins, or until well risen and golden brown.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 28 mini cupcakes or 12 regular cupcakes
1001 Cupcakes, Cookies and Other Tempting Treats

I decided to push the boat out on the icing, making a new frosting.  I've long admired American style frosting on cupcakes, so sleek and silky smooth looking.  Believe me, this frosting tastes as good as it looks!

American Style Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
130g butter, at room temp
230g cream cheese, at room temp
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups icing sugar (I measured this to be 540g!)
1-4 tbsp double cream or milk

Place the butter in a large mixing bowl and blend slightly.  Add cream cheese and blend until combined.

Add vanilla extract and icing sugar and blend on a low speed until combined.  Increase to medium speed and beat until it begins to get fluffy.

Slowly add the cream or milk and a little bit at a time until the desired consistency is met.  (I didn't add any as I used an extra light cream cheese and I wanted the frosting to hold its shape when piped onto the cupcakes).  Beat until fluffy, approx 1 min.

Use at once or keep in the fridge for several days.  If you do this it may need to be re beat before using to get the right texture.

Makes enough to frost 1 batch of cupcakes
http://glorioustreats.blogspot.com/

Head over to the Glorious Treats Blog to find three variations to this base recipe which includes a Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting and a Strawberry / Blackberry Frosting too.

Top the cupcakes with a milk chocolate button and voila ... Chocolate Chip Cupcake Bites are ready for consumption!