Chocolate Mousse Cupcakes

Chocolate and Chocolate and more...Chocolate!!!!!!!!!

The Delicious-with-a-capital-C-for-Cupcake-Queen Elinor Klivans strikes again with her Chocolate Mousse Cupcakes! These little treats pack an ENORMOUS punch! Indeed, I am still crashing from my chocolate/sugar high after sampling just 1. Oh. And, ummmmmm, licking quite a bit of batter, filling, and mousse.....oops!!!

These are the perfect treat for a birthday gift, and baked especially at a birthday girl's request! I only hope my husband and I manage to save her 1/2 a dozen. (Or 1)

Chocolate Mousse Cupcakes

Makes 12 cupcakes

Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes

Cupcakes:

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 1/4 cups sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup water

Chocolate Fudge Topping

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 2 pieces

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Filling

3/4 cup of the Chocolate Fudge Topping at room temperature

1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

1 teaspoon instant coffee granules

Remove cupcakes from pan onto wire rack for cooling (about 20 minutes) With a verrrrry sharp knife, gently cut the tops from the cupcakes. Set the bottoms aside. Frost the tops with the chocolate fudge topping. Plop a spoonful of the mousse filling on each of the bottoms and EVER-SO-CAREFULLY place the frosted tops back on (Elinor recommends using a metal spatula for this step, but I used my fingers!) Put the cupcakes in the fridge for a bit until the mousse hardens/becomes firm.

If chocolate makes you all melty inside, these are a dream come true!!!!!! Exquisite.

Happy Birthday to ME !!!!!!!!
;-)