Unbelievably Decadent German Chocolate Cupcakes!

Coconut Icing:

1. Combine evaporated milk, butter, brown sugar, sugar, egg yolks, and salt in a saucepan. Cook over medium-high, whisking constantly, until it coats the back of a spoon, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in coconut, pecans, and almond extract. Transfer to a medium bowl, and cool in the refrigerator, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until just chilled, about 1 hour.

Cupcakes:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners, and lightly coat liners with baking spray.

2. Whisk together flour, granulated sugar, cocoa, espresso granules, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl until combined. Stir in sour cream, oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and eggs just until smooth. Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups (about 1/3 cup batter each).

3. Place pan in preheated oven; immediately reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

4. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center of cupcakes comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes; transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Chocolate Frosting:

1. Place butter, powdered sugar, and cocoa in bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, scraping down sides as needed, about 3 minutes. Stir in melted chocolate, cream, and vanilla until combined and smooth. Cover and chill until just firm, about 30 minutes.

2. Stir frosting, and spoon into a piping bag fitted with a Wilton #21 fluted tip. Pipe a circle around the edge of each cupcake. Spoon coconut icing inside each circle of chocolate frosting.

   

Cook’s Note:

Store cupcakes in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.