Molten Chocolate Cupcakes

Each day when the sun breaks through and the temperature begins to flirt with us, we momentarily escape from winter's grasp and envision the beauty and charm that accompany spring-like weather. We head to bed at night with promise that tomorrow will be just as tantalizing and bring even more hope. That's when winter gathers all her energy and power and reminds us that we're not in charge. 

Today was one of those days. We woke up to the sounds of mother nature beating on our windows and the snow blowing fast and hard. The coffee that usually warms us from the inside out was no match for the fury outside. It was cold and blustery and everything I didn't want to face today. I felt like crawling back to bed and tucking the duvet under my feet and pulling the covers as tight as possible. 

I left the house and huddled in my car while it warmed up. As soon as the tires hit the street and the house was out of view, I started craving home. The warmth that greets me inside the door every night and the smell that escapes from the kitchen. I thought about the big, comfortable chair I live in some nights and the roar from the fireplace behind me. And I dreamt about chocolate. Hot chocolate, chocolate pudding and cupcakes. Warm, soft cupcakes.

Cold days are meant for soups and baked goods. Warm food that helps as only it knows how. It bundles us up and brings a deep, satisfying calm to the day. And as much as I love a bowl of soup, nothing beats the first bite of a moist, dense chocolate cake. Rich, fudge-like and satisfying. And these cakes unleash a warm, molten centre that escapes like lava from a volcano. 

I love everything about Molten Chocolate Cupcakes. The rich chocolate flavour, the dense sponge-like cake and the velvety smooth sauce inside. And most of all I love how it makes me feel. Slightly guilty and completely satisfied.

Completely happy.

I find a nook in the house and bring a plate, fork and a couple of these cupcakes. I sit down, dig in and let the wave of chocolate wash over me. And I escape to a moment from my past when cupcakes were my childhood weakness and it brings me back to those days when happiness was always just a cupcake away.

From my kitchen to yours, happy eating!

Molten Chocolate Cupcakes

The Goods:

• 4 tbsp. room temp. butter
• 1/4 c. icing sugar
• 1 extra large egg
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 c. self-rising flour
• 1 tbsp. sweetened cocoa
• 55 grams semisweet chocolate
• icing sugar for dusting

Prep:

1. Fill a muffin tin with 8 paper muffin cases.
2. Using a large mixing bowl, add in the butter, baking powder, sugar, egg, flour and cocoa. Whisk with an electric mixer until smooth.
3. Spoon half of the batter into the cups and make an indentation in the middle with a teaspoon or your finger. Break the chocolate up evenly and add a square inside the space. Fill with the rest of the batter on top.
4. Bake at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes, or until the edges are baked the centre is slightly soft. Let rest for 2 minutes and sprinkle with a dusting of icing sugar. Serve.