I fail at posting.
But I can't very well help it seeing as how we don't have internet.
Aaaaaaand I started a new job. Full time. Forty minutes away.
Yeah...not the best recipe for blogging (no pun intended).
Or for doing anything for that matter. I have yet to figure out how to accomplish everything that's on my to do list (like go grocery shopping, clean my house and somehow figure out what to cook for dinner with the 3 contents of my fridge and the 10 minutes I have before my husband gets home).
Let's just say that things have been interesting.
But I have been getting better. Slowly, but surely, progress is being made.
Anyhow, the recipe I wanted to share with you today completely reflects my lack of time because it is the EASIEST and, conveniently, the MOST DELICIOUS thing ever.
Have any of you guys ever been to the Cocoa Bean? Um, yeah. It is like the best place ever. Seriously. So yummy. It's a cupcake bakery. And their cupcakes are to die for. But that's not all. They also have mouth-watering frappes, ice cream, shakes, hot chocolate, and Italian soda. And it's all delicious (well...I've never tried the soda, so I can't vouch for it, but everything else...mmmm).
Ben and I go there WAY too often. Like...we would have a life savings if it weren't for the Cocoa Bean. Okay, I'm kidding. Kind of.
Anyhow, our long time favorite was the Cream Cheese Chocolate Raspberry cupcake. We got it so often that I finally said, "That's it. We're getting to the bottom of this!" So I purchased another one (or two...) and set out to re-create this treat.
It actually was pretty much the easiest thing ever. And the stars of the show are pretty straight-forward, so I'm going to let you use your own favorite recipes for the basics.
First, start by making batter for chocolate cake.
I won't judge if you use a cake mix. I will judge if you use a cake mix and don't doctor it up a bit (I suggest putting in some yogurt or sour cream to help make the cake a little more moist). Put your batter into muffin liners.
But I can't very well help it seeing as how we don't have internet.
Aaaaaaand I started a new job. Full time. Forty minutes away.
Yeah...not the best recipe for blogging (no pun intended).
Or for doing anything for that matter. I have yet to figure out how to accomplish everything that's on my to do list (like go grocery shopping, clean my house and somehow figure out what to cook for dinner with the 3 contents of my fridge and the 10 minutes I have before my husband gets home).
Let's just say that things have been interesting.
But I have been getting better. Slowly, but surely, progress is being made.
Anyhow, the recipe I wanted to share with you today completely reflects my lack of time because it is the EASIEST and, conveniently, the MOST DELICIOUS thing ever.
Have any of you guys ever been to the Cocoa Bean? Um, yeah. It is like the best place ever. Seriously. So yummy. It's a cupcake bakery. And their cupcakes are to die for. But that's not all. They also have mouth-watering frappes, ice cream, shakes, hot chocolate, and Italian soda. And it's all delicious (well...I've never tried the soda, so I can't vouch for it, but everything else...mmmm).
Ben and I go there WAY too often. Like...we would have a life savings if it weren't for the Cocoa Bean. Okay, I'm kidding. Kind of.
Anyhow, our long time favorite was the Cream Cheese Chocolate Raspberry cupcake. We got it so often that I finally said, "That's it. We're getting to the bottom of this!" So I purchased another one (or two...) and set out to re-create this treat.
It actually was pretty much the easiest thing ever. And the stars of the show are pretty straight-forward, so I'm going to let you use your own favorite recipes for the basics.
First, start by making batter for chocolate cake.
I won't judge if you use a cake mix. I will judge if you use a cake mix and don't doctor it up a bit (I suggest putting in some yogurt or sour cream to help make the cake a little more moist). Put your batter into muffin liners.
Aren't these liners cute?
Bake.
Are you ready for the secret ingredients???
TA-DAAAAAA!
TA-DAAAAAA!
Yep. Nutella and Raspberry Jam. Pretty wild, I know. But seriously. Flavor explosion!
So go ahead and spread your Nutella on top of your cupcake.
So go ahead and spread your Nutella on top of your cupcake.
Then get your jam on there (Ben was kind enough to take a photo here. I don't actually have 3 hands). The first time I did this, I was really worried that the jam wouldn't give enough raspberry flavor. But I really think that it turned out to be perfect.
Get all your cupcakes covered.
Whip up your favorite cream cheese frosting recipe.
(Side note: I, for the life of me, cannot replicate the Cocoa Bean's frosting recipe, which is just a crying shame because it is divine. It's sweet and thick and the cream cheese really stands out. I've tried a couple different recipes and nothing has turned out to be the same. Soooo, if you have an awesome cream cheese frosting recipe, let me know. I have a good one...but it just isn't the same. Not to worry, I've tried several different variations of cream cheese frosting on this, and they all turn out excellent.)
(Side note: I, for the life of me, cannot replicate the Cocoa Bean's frosting recipe, which is just a crying shame because it is divine. It's sweet and thick and the cream cheese really stands out. I've tried a couple different recipes and nothing has turned out to be the same. Soooo, if you have an awesome cream cheese frosting recipe, let me know. I have a good one...but it just isn't the same. Not to worry, I've tried several different variations of cream cheese frosting on this, and they all turn out excellent.)
And frost. The Cocoa Bean is very generous with frosting. I cut back a bit because Ben isn't as much of a sugar fiend as I am. Feel free to frost according to preference. And enjoy!