Surprise Chocolate Cupcakes!

Anytime I make cupcakes I always remember when some of my classmates in elementary school would give out treats on their birthday to all of us. I always thought that was really nice and I'm now wondering if I ever gave out cupcakes on my birthday,maybe... probably :P.

Well since I started this blog I have been giving out way more treats then I ever did in the past because I am baking more and I no longer want any bake goods to go to waste.I would even volunteer to join a bake sale to lend a hand and sale some of my bake goods just to prevent it. With that way of thinking I always feel annoyed when something that's gets thrown away that's perfectly fine especially when someone puts some work into it. I think its best to give it as a gift or donate it :)

Anyways,this is the first cupcake I have made from the new book I received on Christmas called Martha Stewart's cupcakes.I can now basically make any cupcake I want for fun or special occasion :D. There are some really creative decorations and stencil ideas for the cakes. There is one in the book that is my favorite that has ladybugs crawling on icing grass :P.I am stoked to try some more of the cakes in the future. I love the creativity involved.

This cake from the book is called vegan chocolate cupcake;however it also known as being called wacky cupcakes.  I did however spice up these cupcakes by adding a little hidden surprise for my eaters. At first I thought of  hiding a few pastel mints to each center but instead I went with jam for the centers. I went with one of my favorite flavors, strawberry. Chocolate and strawberry are a great combination and now I got myself thinking about chocolate covered strawberries, yum:P, I"ll have to make that for something when strawberries are in season :D.

I love this kind of cake its extremely moist and hey no eggs or butter, score!.This will impress at any bake sale and it doesn't cost that much to make.Usually the best things are the simplest kind.This cupcakes could be easily transform in to a frosted top, but I think they look perfectly delicious with just a bit of sifted icing sugar atop.If any one's going the icing sugar route please do it when cakes are completely cool or the sugar will just be absorbed.

The center of jam adds a great sweetness and surprise which I love. I used a strawberry jam that has chunks of strawberry through out so its not as liquidity. This helps to prevent to much bubbling to the top when baked. The best treatment to prevent bubbling it to not add to much jam to each center about 1 tsp is as much it can take. I had a little bubbling but nothing to disastrous and icing sugar always helps to cover it up

I love cupcakes and they always makes me feel like a child at heart :D

Surprise Chocolate Cupcakes (Adapted from Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes, Martha Stewart's Cupcakes)

1 1/2 cup cake flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 tbsp white vinegar or lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/4 cup cold water

Icing sugar

Strawberry jam/ any favorite jam

1. 350F, Line cupcake or muffin tin.

2. Sift together cake flour, white sugar, cocoa powder, b.s and salt in medium bowl, set a side.

3. Beat on med-high speed in a large bowl the oil, vinegar, vanilla and water until combined.

4. Add flour mix, beat till smooth (thin batter)

5. Open up strawberry jam jar and scoop large amount on to a small plate.

5. Add batter to each liner,about less then three quarters full. Add about 1 tsp of jam to each center. Then proceed to cover the tops with more batter, till jam is no longer visible. (Be sure not to add to much jam because during baking it can bubble out of the cupcake)

6.Bake for 20-25 minutes and be sure to rotate pans halfway through for even baking.

7. Use toothpick test, when done, remove and cool on a rack.

8. Once completely cool, dust your desire amount of icing sugar.

(3 days stored at room temp, frozen for 1 month)