White Chocolate Raspberry

I'm eating one of these cupcakes as I write this post because they are THAT good! The chocolate cupcake, delicious, the white chocolate raspberry cream cheese, phenomenal!! I think this is one of my favorite chocolate cupcakes so far, they are moist and soft and chocolately. However because they are so soft they fall apart easily and can be quite messy, especially with kids. I made these for a jewelry party I hosted last night and got lots of great reviews! Highly recommend these!!

Chocolate Cupcakes with White Chocolate Raspberry Cream Cheese frosting

Chocolate Cupcakes

• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsps baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1 cup oil
• 2 cups hot water
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsps vanilla extract

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a bowl until you get a thin batter (will be runny). Pour batter into muffin tins with cupcake liner, full 3/4 full. Bake 19-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Yields 24-28 cupcakes.

White Chocolate Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1 stick unsalted butter, room temp
• 1 - 8 oz pkg cream cheese, room temp
• 6 oz melted white chocolate (I used Ghirardelli White Chocolate Baking Bars)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsps raspberry extract
• 4-5 cups powdered sugar (depends on your desired consistency)

Melt white chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water NOT boiling. I used a saucepan filled just under 1/2 full of water and places a glass boil over, stir chocolate occasionally. Once the chocolate is melted, set aside to cool slightly. Beat cream cheese in a mixing bowl until smooth and creamy, gradually add in melted white chocolate and beat until smooth. Beat in butter, vanilla and raspberry extracts. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until it is all incorporated and smooth. After the frosting is well blended, you can mix in your preferred color. I used a very small dab of pink gel icing color (a little goes a long way!). I wanted a soft light pink color just to add to the raspberry theme. Mix until color is thoroughly mixed. I piped the frosting using a decorating bag without a tip.