You guys, I have been wanting to tell you about these ah-mazing cupcakes for months (←yes really) but for some reason or another . . . ok mainly because I was easily distracted by this, this and this . . . (who can blame me right?) and then there was the incredible vacation with the terrrrrrible internet connection and well that my friends has me out of excuses.

But you guys, these cupcakes! Perfect for the holidays, I totally see myself inhaling them single handedly them making an appearance at our New Years Eve celebrations. They are perfect with all their sparkly delicious jewels on top. And come on, what better way to finish off the year then with a subtly sweet, perfectly moist (sorry) vanilla cupcake with a mountain of delicious, fudgey chocolate buttercream frosting?

Insert sound of crickets chirping people because nothing, that’s right NOTHING could be better 🙂

Vanilla cupcakes can sometimes be, you know . . . blah, blah boring but not these bad boys. They are absolute perfection. The perfect base for the most incredible fudgey chocolate buttercream frosting I ever tasted. Yes really!

I don’t usually care for buttercream frosting, I mean I like it but its not my favourite you know?

But this . . . this frosting was something else. I had to lock the spoons away, go brush my teeth and cover the leftover frosting and tuck it wwwwaaayyyy back in the dark scary corner of the fridge just to stop myself eating it all…… you have been warned.

Now, I have to thank the one and only, the seriously talented (not to mention blindingly beautiful) Jenna from Eat. Live. Run for sharing these killer recipes in her book White Jacket Required. Girlfriend has some serious skills as not only a writer but also in the kitchen . . .  cooking, baking, photographing . . . you name it.

Anyways I gotta run, not because I ate one to many of these cupcakes . . . well maybe that too but we just found out we are moving . . . next week . . . 3 days after christmas . . . I got me some packing to do.

Add this incredible book to your christmas wish list and go make these cupcakes already.

Oh and I’m thinking add a drop of peppermint extract to make them all kinds of festive for this holiday season. You know you want to

All-Occasion Yellow Cupcakes with Fudgey Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
This recipe re-written from White Jacket Required
Makes 12 standard size cupcakes (with enough frosting for 24!)

Ingredients –

For the cupcakes –

1 cup plain flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt flakes

4 Tbsp butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1/3 cup milk

2 teaspoons of Vanilla extract

For the Frosting –

1/2 cup (8 Tablespoons) of unsalted butter at room temperature.

3 cups icing (powdered) sugar

Pinch of salt flakes

3 Tablespoons of cocoa powder

2 Tablespoons of milk (I use skim)

Method –

To make the cupcakes –

Preheat oven to 175’C (350’F)

Line a cupcake tray with paper cases and set aside.

In a medium size bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt then set aside.

Cream together butter and sugar.

Add the egg and beat until combined.

Add vanilla and beat again.

Add dry ingredients alternately with milk to the butter/sugar mix until smooth.

Fill cupcake cases approx 2/3 with batter and bake for 12-15 mins until tops are golden and spring back when lightly pressed.

Allow to cool in the pan for 5 mins before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the frosting –

In a large bowl cream together butter,  sugar, salt flakes and vanilla for 5 mins with your electric mixer on high.

Add cocoa and milk and continue to beat for 8-10 mins until very light, thick, fluffy and absolutely irresistible!

Frost your cooled cupcakes with as much chocolate buttercream as your little heart desires and top with rainbow sprinkles 🙂

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Nutritional Info (approx per cupcake with frosting) obtained using myfitnesspal –

Cal – 155
Fat – 2
Protein – 23
Carbs – 32
Fiber – 0.1

Nutritional Info (approx per cupcake) obtained using myfitnesspal –

Cal – 86
Fat – 1
Protein – 2
Carbs – 16
Fiber – 0.3

Nutritional Info (approx per serve of frosting) obtained using myfitnesspal –

Cal – 68
Fat – 0.6
Protein – 0.4
Carbs – 15
Fiber – 0.1