Spicy Dark Chocolate-Coffee Cupcakes with Cardamom Buttercream
March 28, 2011 | Print | E-mail | Filed under chocolate, cupcakes
Back in October, I received a generous surprise package in the mail from Scharffen Berger. Not only did it contain several chocolate bars, but there was also a flyer describing their Chocolate Adventure contest. Last year’s contest was all about cupcakes…the rules for entering were simply that you had to create a recipe using Scharffen Berger chocolate and at least one of their adventure ingredients. It sounded like fun, so I thought, why not? I came up with a cupcake recipe and submitted it. And, even though I wasn’t one of the winners (apparently they were big on stout beer, and that wasn’t one of the ingredients I chose), I still had fun making them – they are definitely the most unique cupcake I’ve made yet! The combination of chocolate, coffee, and cardamom is a match made in heaven – and the chili pepper gives them just enough of a kick to make things interesting. If you’re feeling adventurous too, give them a try!
- 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into 1″ pieces
- 2 ounces 99% cacao dark chocolate, chopped
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp crushed chili pepper flakes
- 1 Tbsp ground coffee beans
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup sour cream (I used fat free)
For the frosting:
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp ground cardamom
To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 325 degrees and line a non-stick muffin pan with cupcake liners. Combine the butter and chocolate in double boiler and melt, or place in a microwave-safe bowl and heat at 50% power for 30 second increments until melted.
In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, pepper flakes, and coffee grounds.
In another small bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar. Stir in the vanilla extract and sour cream. Add the chocolate mixture and stir until combined, and then add in the flour mixture half at a time until well-combined.
Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups. Bake 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove to a wire rack to cool before frosting.
To make the frosting, beat the butter, vanilla extract, and cardamom until smooth. Add in the powdered sugar gradually until all of it has been incorporated. Beat until fluffy and then decorate the cupcakes as desired.
March 28th, 2011 at 9:29 am
These look gorgeous! I can’t believe Scharffen Berger didn’t choose yours as a finalist. I demand a recount!
March 28th, 2011 at 9:30 am
The addition of cardamom has certainly grabbed my attention. I’ve only recently started using it and have fallen in love with the flavor. I’ve only used it with savory but I’ll bet it’s great in sweets too. Thanks for the recipe!
March 28th, 2011 at 9:37 am
Those cupcakes look amazing! I love that you used cardamom. Delicious and so fancy!
March 28th, 2011 at 9:42 am
*Faint* thunk!
March 28th, 2011 at 9:45 am
Tracy, you’ve really outdone yourself here. Spicy cupcakes, creamy cardamom buttercream? I die. I seriously die, and I want one of these cupcakes for breakfast!
March 28th, 2011 at 9:54 am
How interesting! I’m a big spicy chocolate fan. But I never thought about adding cardamom to the mix! Thanks for sharing
March 28th, 2011 at 10:04 am
I am surprised you did not win with these wonderful cupcakes. They sound delicious with the chocolate and spicy pepper…wow..and the buttercream with cardamom sounds amazing.
March 28th, 2011 at 10:55 am
Love these! What a great combo!
March 28th, 2011 at 10:58 am
Great combination!
March 28th, 2011 at 11:33 am
Love your site. The cupcakes look amazing, I wish mine always turned out so beautiful. Yum, yum and more yum!
March 28th, 2011 at 11:44 am
I love the addition of Cardamon – what a delicious cupcake!
March 28th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Your baked creations never fail to make me hungry! These look amazing!!
March 28th, 2011 at 12:38 pm
Those look wonderful. I bet they taste amazing.
March 28th, 2011 at 1:02 pm
LOVE cardamom- good idea tucking it inside of buttercream!
March 28th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
I love cardamom! These look incredible.
March 28th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
for some reason, i can’t recall the flavor of cardamom. but these cupcakes are too cute! i’ll have to buy a jar and give them a shot.
March 28th, 2011 at 2:43 pm
Oh wow… Cardamom buttercream sounds just incredible! Can’t wait to try this out.
March 28th, 2011 at 2:45 pm
*sigh* They look like first place to me!!!
March 28th, 2011 at 2:50 pm
Jaw is dropping! Love this creative combo
March 28th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
I just got some cardamom and was wondering what to do with it, and when I saw this post on twitter, I clicked right over! They look so good!!
March 28th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
These look so tasty! Great recipe. I love learning new cupcake recipes
March 28th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
i’m wary of spicy/sweet combos, but you’re winning me over with this one!!
March 28th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
Tracy, you hit a home run with this icing. I can imagine how good the cardamom tastes.
March 28th, 2011 at 6:02 pm
Love. Interesting flavors!
March 28th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
This sounds like a beautiful combination of flavors – I would love to have one right now!!
March 28th, 2011 at 8:59 pm
LOVE cardamom. I buy the green pods and grind it myself; it’s incredible.
You are genius to put this flavor profile together.Now I’m craving some.
March 28th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
I’ve had spicy hot chocolate and spicy chocolate bars but never a spicy chocolate cupcake! And that cardamom buttercream sounds fantastic!
March 28th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
I love all your recipes, and this one just confirms it!
March 28th, 2011 at 11:48 pm
What a great sounding cupcake! I don’t think I’ve ever had cardamom before.
March 29th, 2011 at 7:09 am
Haha I KNEW I recognized those cupcake liners from somewhere! I’ve got a few sitting in a basket behind me…and I think they are going to need to be made into these cupcakes. That cardamom frosting…sounds divine. Cardamom is one of my favorite flavors to incorporate into baked goods!
March 29th, 2011 at 9:37 am
OOh Cardamom Buttercream sounds like the best thing ever.
March 29th, 2011 at 11:00 am
These looks YUMMY! I could eat them up this morning.
March 29th, 2011 at 7:00 pm
SO beautiful! I am a big fan of anything flavored with cardamom!
March 29th, 2011 at 9:31 pm
These look and sound AMAZINGLY delicious!!
March 30th, 2011 at 4:59 am
Love the combo of flavors and I’m a huge lover of dark chocolate so these are already on my list to try soon. These look and sound amazing!!
March 30th, 2011 at 11:54 pm
Wow…chili pepper flakes in cupcakes! I am intrigued! I bet they are delicious…especially with the cardamom buttercream! Mmm…
April 1st, 2011 at 8:56 pm
This is a great recipe for winter!!! Yummy yum. I want to try making them but I’m wondering….how many grams/ounces is one stick of butter?
April 2nd, 2011 at 11:52 am
Wow! Now this is an amazing recipe. Such unique flavors. With your permission, I’d like to post the recipe on my chocolate blog. My readers will go nuts!
April 11th, 2011 at 8:13 pm
wow–i fell in love with cardamom about a year ago!!! i cant wait to make these!!!
January 5th, 2012 at 8:09 pm
I can’t wait to try these! They sound awesome!