Feeling the Burn

Remember roller skating?

A few weeks ago I was honored to bake cupcakes for my sister-in law's 40th birthday party. The party was held in a roller rink that hasn't really changed since it was built in 19-whatever. Low ceilings, dark walls, the smell. Not a bad smell, just THE smell. If you spent anytime in a roller rink as a kid, you know what I'm talking about. We laced up our skates and headed onto the planks, ACDC pumping from the DJ "booth". My girls and I had a blast even though I am certainly no roller derby queen. What a great way to usher in a new decade. Old? No way. Psssssh. Take that 40.

Of course, the next day I may or may not have felt the burn. On the scorecard of life: Spunky little attitude: 1 Old age: 1.

The perfect cupcakes to celebrate: Chocolate Chili. Life is sweet, and if you're lucky a little spicy too.

Chocolate Chili Cupcakes with Dulce de Leche Cream Cheese Frosting



cupcake recipe from Chockylit

Ingredients:

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1-1/4 cup water
1-1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground pequin chilies
2 sticks butter
1-1/2 cups dark brown sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla

Method:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1)Measure out 1 1/4 cup boiling water. Combine with chopped chocolate and cocoa powder. Whisk until combined.

2)In separate bowl: whisk flour, baking powder, salt and ground pequin chilis

3)In bowl of electric mixer, beat butter until creamy. Add dark brown sugar. Beat until light and fluffy.

4)Add eggs one at a time. Beat well between each addition.

5)Add sour cream and vanilla.

6)Alternate adding flour and then chocolate mixture, flour then chocolate, then flour until everything has been combined.

7)Fill cupcake liner 3/4 full. Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes.


Dulce de Leche Cream Cheese frosting:

double, triple, or quadruple this recipe. It's so good you will want to eat it with a spoon!!

Ingredients:
2 cans Dulce de Leche (Nestle La Lechera)
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 cup confectioners sugar
(2) 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, preferably freshly ground
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt

Method:
Combine 1 can of Nestle Culce de Leche with butter, cream cheese, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. Beat on medium-high speed with paddle until light, fluffy and completely smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally. Add confectioners sugar until combined at low speed, then beat on high until light and fluffy again.

To frost cupcakes fill one side of a piping bag with the other can of Dulce de Leche, scraping it up the sides and fill the other side with cream cheese frosting. Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar, or a dash of chili if you are feeling spicy!