Angels, Ditch Watermelon, Try This -- Flourless Chocolate Beet Cupcakes

"When one has tasted watermelon he knows what the angels eat."~Mark Twain

Yes, watermelons are delicious and juicy and the hands-down perfect summer fruit. BUT, I think angels need to get with the times. THESE cupcakes are where it's AT.

Absolutely heavenly.

I am positive that these are the most delicious things that have ever come out of my oven.

I was going to save this for a future post, but I couldn't wait. The world needs to know about these cupcakes. They are rich, decadent perfection. They are beyond your wildest chocolately dreams--I'm hyperbole-ing all over the place but seriously, guys, you HAVE to try this. I used to lust after PF Chang's Flourless Chocoalte Dome and these taste EXACTLY like it. And you're actually getting some veggies in there too, since they do indeed require beets.

A few months ago, pre-cooking-blog-era, I stumbled upon Ming Makes Cupcakes. Apparently it's not updated anymore, but each one of them looks lovely. I'd been meaning to make a batch of ANY of them ever since, and it just so happened that I had everything that I needed right in my pantry already.

Little did I know the results would be this good. They are so rich and moist and CHOCOATEY. I suggest eating them with a fork and the largest glass of milk you can find. They are truly tiny cakes, they deserve a fork. I eat it slowly, savoring every bit, washing it down with a gulp of milk (required after each bite, they are RICH). I thought this was the ONLY way to enjoy them, but Boyfriend scarfed down three in one sitting without taking a breath so this might just be preference.

I'm working on my "plating"

I topped them with chocolate ganache and homemade whipped cream. I thought ganache would be a huge deal, but really, it's very easy to make. Whipped cream is also very easy to make. Did you know that it is practically JUST whipping cream? You take cream, and you whip it. Who knew!

I'm contemplating really experimenting hard and making a white chocolate/"vanilla" version with strawberry sauce, or a different kind of ganache. Hmmm...

Flourless Chocolate Beet Cupcakes

Recipe from Ming Makes Cupcakes

• 3/4 stick butter
• 1.5 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup sugar 
• 1/2 cup pureed beets (from canned whole beets)
• 3 eggs, separated

-Puree beets in blender until smooth.  Melt butter and chocolate in double boiler (or a metal bowl inside a pan of boiling water).  Stir until melted, then remove from heat. Let cool slightly, then stir in egg yolks and beets.

  

-In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until they hold soft peaks.  Gradually add sugar and beat until mixture is still and glossy.  Slowly add chocolate mixture.  

-Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full.  Bake at 275 for 35 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out almost clean. 

Chocolate Ganache

• 1 bag chocolate chips
• 1 cup cream

-For ganache: Bring one cup cream to a boil. Immediately remove from heat and pour over a bowl of chocolate chips (I used milk, but usually it calls for semisweet) and mix until chips are melted. Let cool, then use to glaze EVERYTHING. Like these cupcakes!

Whipped Cream

• 1 cup whipping cream
• confectioner's sugar

You take the cream and you whip it with an electric mixer or elbow grease and add confectioner's sugar until desired sweetness is reached. Seriously?




*I don't have the bag in front of me, but it's the medium sized bag. Not the tiny one, not the huge one. You know what I'm talking about, right?