Is there a particular food item that brings back the child in you? Give me a tin of condensed milk and I feel younger than my 6 year old nephew! Even today, every time I open a condensed milk tin I end up with a band aid on my finger. The funny thing is that, I’m eating and licking it in such a hurry thinking that I’ll get caught, even if I’m all alone at home, what to say… old habits die hard ;)
Recently when I went shopping with one of my friends, she got a tin of milk powder, not to make tea/coffee or anything of that sort… it’s solely for her husband to eat! Her statement brought back many memories.. memories of me hiding under the bed with Nestle Everyday milk powder tin and a spoon. I used to stuff my mouth with big spoonfuls of milk powder in a hurry before anybody got hold of me, that it got stuck between my teeth. No wonder Amma used to lock it up in store room!
I was introduced to Nutella only after coming to Bahrain. Initially I never bothered buying it, because I’m not a big chocolate fan. Then I happened to see Nutella this and Nutella that in so many food blogs, I decided to try it. Whenever I bought it, the Nutella jar mysteriously disappeared. Only to discover a few days later, an empty jar with a spoon stuck inside in some corner of the house! Over the years, I bought n number of Nutella, but it didnt last more than 2-3 days. If it’s Milkmaid for me and milk powder for a friend, it’s Nutella for Jose, that brings back the child in him. Anyways, recently when I bought it, I made sure to bake these cupcakes on the very same day, so finally I could do something with it.
Btw, all this while I used to think I’ve a lot of growing up to do, but the idea of two grownups sitting with a tin of Nutella and milk powder, respectively, licking the spoon… makes me think twice… that I’m pretty much grown up ;)
About these cupcakes, it’s a very moist chocolate cupcake with the surprise element of Nutella in the middle. If you are already a Nutella fan, I’ve nothing more to say. If you are new to Nutella, try it, at least just to see whether the child in you is kicking and jumping and still alive ;)
Here you go with the step by step pictures…
Put the flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) and beat on low speed until you get a sandy consistency and everything is combined…
Slowly pour the milk into the flour mixture, beating well until all the ingredients are well mixed. Add the egg…
Beat well (scrape any unmixed ingredients from the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula).Spoon the batter into the paper cases until two-thirds full and bake in the preheated oven for about 20 mins, or until the cake bounce back when touched…
When the cupcakes are cold, hollow out a small section in the center of each one…
Fill the cupcakes with a dollop of Nutella, cover the cupcake with the cut out piece…
Recipe adapted verbatim from the hummingbird bakery cookbook
- Plain flour (maida) – ¾ cup + 1 tbsp
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – 2½ tbsp
- Sugar – a scant ¾ cup
- Baking powder – 1½ tsp
- Salt – a pinch
- Unsalted butter – 3 tbsp @ room temp
- Whole milk – ½ cup
- Egg – 1 @ room temp
- Nutella – ½ cup
- Icing sugar – 2 cups, sifted
- Unsalted butter – 5 tbsp @ room temp
- Whole milk – 2 tbsp
- Nutella – ⅓ cup
- Preheat oven to 180 C, 10 mins before baking.
- Put the flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) and beat on low speed until you get a sandy consistency and everything is combined.
- Slowly pour the milk into the flour mixture, beating well until all the ingredients are well mixed. Add the egg and beat well (scrape any unmixed ingredients from the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula).
- Spoon the batter into the paper cases until two-thirds full and bake in the preheated oven for about 20 mins, or until the cake bounce back when touched. let the cupcakes cool slightly in the pan before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- When the cupcakes are cold, hollow out a small section in the center of each one and fill with a dollop of Nutella and cover it with the cut put piece.
- Icing Preparation
- Beat the icing sugar and butter together in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) on medium-slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed. Turn the mixer down to a slower speed. Slowly pour in the milk, then when it is all incorporated, turn the mixer up to high speed. Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, at least 5 mins. The longer the frosting is beaten, the fluffier and lighter it becomes.
- Stir in the Nutella by hand until evenly mixed into the frosting. When the cupcakes are cold, spoon the frosting on top.
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