If there’s one thing in life I can’t live without (besides french fries) it would have to be cupcakes. Even on my worst days, if there was the perfect cupcake waiting for me at home all my troubles would melt away during that brief moment when I’m stuffing my face.Let’s get real people, life is too short to go on those crazy “no carb, no meat, no sugar aka nothing fun” diets. I feel anything in moderation is fine, but don’t get me wrong — this recipe will definitely be hard for any normal person to resist from just eating one. The secret ingredient for this chocolate cake is coffee, it really makes the chocolate taste richer adding a nice body to it and BOY is it moist! Not to mention the grownup filling of the brandy soaked strawberries topped off with a sweet chantilly cream, these cupcakes would be perfect for any occassion.
I think one of my favorite parts about desserts is the give-ability factor. Not only does it save YOU calories but you are spreading the love to others. Whenever I bake I usually send some to my neighbors, friends and family — it’s kind of a nice unexpected “pick me up” for maybe a stressful, boring, or busy week. Plus, when you give these bad boys away I can gurantee you will suddenly have many “best friends”, hell, girls you may even win a husband with this recipe. Anyways, enough talk about how freaking delicious these cupcakes are — here’s the recipe! (I don’t know why I can’t revert my text out of italics — WP is being strange, but I kinda like it 
) Have a great weekend folks 
Ingredients for Moist Chocolate Cupcakes: (Makes 12-18 cupcakes)
- 1 3/4 cup All-Purpose flour
- 2 cup sugar
- 1/2 c cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1 cup coffee
Preheat the oven to 350F.
For the chocolate cake, mix all of the dry ingredients together so they are evenly distributed. Add the wet ingredients one at a time as listed, until fully incorporated. This ensures the batter comes out nice and smooth. Line the muffin pans with cupcake liners and pour the batter about 3/4 of the way, leaving room for the cake to rise when baking. Place in the oven for 20 minutes, you can check the doneness by inserting a toothpick in the middle, if it comes out clean it is ready (Because oven temperatures differ, if the batter is still wet leave for 5 minutes longer, repeat until done.) Set aside and cool.
Ingredients for Brandy Soaked Strawberries:
- 1 lb container fresh strawberries, cleaned thoroughly and hulled
- 1 cup brandy
- 1/4 cup honey
In a large container or bowl, whisk the brandy and honey together. Small dice the strawberries and immerse completely in the brandy honey mixture. Allow to marinate for at least 1 hour.
(You can use any remaining strawberries you don’t use in the cupcakes as an ice cream topping!)
Ingredients for Chantilly Cream:
- 1 pint heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Using an hand held beater or electric stand mixer, whip the cream until it forms soft peaks. Add in the sugar and vanilla and beat until just stiff. Be sure not to over whip your cream, if your cream curdles gradually beat in more cream until it becomes smooth again.
To assemble cupcakes first cut a cone like shape off the top of each cupcake in order to create a space for the strawberry filling. (Baking Bites offers a nice step-by-step photos here.) Carefully spoon the brandied strawberries into each cupcake and place the lids on top. Using a pastry bag with a star tip, apply the chantilly cream on the top of each cupcake — you can be creative as to how you would like to apply the topping, I chose to do a simple swirl. Decorate with chocolate sprinkles and sliced strawberries if desired.
Chocolate, berries and whipped cream. You evil, evil person. At least I have cake waiting at home for dessert. Otherwise I’d be making these right away!
Jason
Hey, that’s what i made last weekend with my niece and nephews and texted you with the pictures! Without the bourbon soaked strawberries of course. And I see our forks!
That looks lovely. The cake so moist.
Wow these look amazing!! Thx for sharing..
Hi, Joy. This is a great post, with an appropriate seasonal touch via strawberries (which are so late here in BC this year!) and delectable photos. Thanks, Dan
Hmm…mm…these babies sound pretty tempting! Chocolate & strawberry is a great match after all! I’m sure no one could ever resist the smell & look of them. Let me know if you’re making cheesecake! I’ll book a couple slices. =o) Hope you’re going to have agreat weekend.
Cheers, Kristy
It’s true! Coffee really brings out the flavor of chocolate. Really loving the brandy lovin’ berries too.
Just the name “Chantilly Cream” has me drooling. These are gorgeous!
hahaha Chantilly makes everything better!
You had me at brandy soaked strawberries and chantilly cream! Thanks for sharing an amazing looking cupcake.
Thanks Brian
I appreciate the kind words!
Love the cupcakes… they not only look so tempting but also the flavor profile is amazing! I totally agree with you.. coffee is chocolate’s best friend!
Thanks so much for the kind words — I love this chocolate cake recipe, it’s SO SO MOIST!
Gorgeous. So beautiful! Wil have to try soaking brandy with strawberries once summer is back on.
Ah thank you Penny? What is the weather like over there right now?
Drooling. I love chocolate and berries together.
Haha thanks Nirmala, they are definitely a match made in heaven
Now I understand why you say food love joy! GREG
Hee hee thanks Greg
Does using non-Kosher salt affect the chemistry of the cupcake? It just isn’t something we have in this household.
Chantilly cream and brandy soaked strawberries? yes, I think I will indulge!
hee hee Thanks Amanda!
What a goodness, absolutely fabulous!!!
lovely fork btw
Thank you so much!! I randomly got the fork from a guy that I recently met while shooting a wedding in Nashville, I love it!
Wonderful combination’s in this cupcake…They look delish!
Thank you so much
!
YUM! I want some!
Thanks Noelle!
They should have made this recipe last night on cupcakes wars. It looks great and yet isn’t overwhelmed by a lot of different flavors.
OMG I love that show!!! Hahaha I always get so hungry after watching it though… Thanks for the kind words
Oh my, those look incredible!
Wonderful! I love such unexpected discoveries (about the fork)
Thank you for your comment btw
Do you know that today I made cupcakes with fresh strawberries inside, inspired by your recipe!
These look amazing. I love the ideas of mixing chocolate cupcakes and fresh strawberries.
I’m making these right now! I can’t wait this recipe is fantastic! : )
Hurray Penelope!! You gotta tell me how they turn out
I love the brandy in these and that berry looks super, don’t know how this one got by me! I was looking for a great chocolate cake and found it here! brandy is a bonus! thanks for the recipe….and visiting me as well!
No problem Claudia, it is always a delight!
Thank you. These look amazing. I am going to make them for my friend’s engagement party tonight. However I am from Ireland and I can’t get Kosher salt here so going to usffeee sea salt I guess. Also we don’t have canol oil. Think that’s what we call rapeseed oil. Finally by one cup of cofcofee do you mean dried coffee granules/coffee with water and if it’s with water is it instant coffee or perculated? Thanks. Amy
These went down very well at the party and they looked amazing.Thank you! xx
[...] 8. Moist Chocolate Cupcakes with Brandy Strawberries and Chantilly Cream [...]
can i just ask, im a newbie baker what do you mean in the 1 cup of coffee? granulated coffee or liquid coffee? thanks