Marjorie Johnson's Chocolate Cupcakes

If you've watched the Tonight Show within the last several years, you may be familiar with Marjorie Johnson. She's a baker from Minnesota who has won tons of awards, especially at the state fair. In addition to other local and national shows she's been on, she became an occasional correspondent for Leno after having several baking segments on his show. She always wears red and always talks a mile a minute.

Marjorie came out with a cookbook, and a couple Christmases ago my dad got signed copies for my mom, my sister and me:


I've only tried a few recipes, just because I have SO many recipes bookmarked from all sorts of sources, but these cupcakes have become a favorite. In fact, our friend Rich (a fellow chocolate lover), was quoted as saying, "If I could die for anything, it would be one of these." I guess that means he likes them! They're very soft and crumbly - I tried to show the inside, which resulted in a mess of crumbs surrounding the cupcake, so I apologize for the ugly picture. But just trust me...they're tasty.


Chocolate Cupcakes

Batter:
2 cups cake flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup Crisco
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place all ingredients in a large electric mixer bowl. Blend together on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. Pour into 24 paper-lined muffin cups, filling half full, and bake for about 20 minutes.

Frosting:
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
6 ounce package chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

In a microwaveable bowl, place milk, butter, and chocolate chips. Microwave for 1 minute, stir; if chocolate and butter are not melted, microwave for another minute. Stir until smooth. Add vanilla and powdered sugar and beat to a spreading consistency. Frost cupcakes.

On another chocolate note: I made Pioneer Woman's Chocolate Sheet Cake recently and served it warm...wow. She was right in saying that it causes moans and groans when you take a bite. Even Shaun, who is not nearly the chocolate freak that I am, thought it was really good!