Many years ago, I met a little boy. He had an angelic face with the cutest curls around them, eyes that told stories of twinkling stars and a smile that could melt the strongest of hearts. Like most little boys, he adored everything with wheels. Toy cars, big cars and makeshift cars (the ones that are generally meant to carry belongings but at times can carry a toddler or two…Suitcases).
I told him stories at bedtime, made him laugh during the day with faces and expressions that only we could read, filled up his stockings with little presents during Christmas Eve and made him cry when he played with my dolls.
We walked together a zillion roads, his fingers tightly clutching mine. Till one day he became the ‘cool guy’. Cool guys don’t hold hands. He morphed into a teenager. Fiercely independent..with an understanding of the world that was so rare of his age..who kept a lot to himself but was always ready to offer a lending a hand. Under the pretext of doing homework we spent many afternoons together, sharing secrets, cracking jokes, hiding behind windows and spraying water on innocent passersby and sneaking into the kitchen to do the ‘great taste test’ for dishes that were meant to be served to guests. Needless to say there were other days when we drove each other crazy and fought over every little thing under the sun. My heart aches to think that those moments can never come back.
Before we realised, the spirited teenager grew into a handsome man with a heart of gold. The responsible son, the doting brother…wise, quick witted, generous, loving…and set out to conquer the world. He made our hearts swell up with pride as he went on achieving milestones. He found himself a partner, equally spirited and loving. A beautiful addition to the family.
A simple chocolate cupcake made extra chocolaty with the addition of chocolate chips. The frosting is gorgeous.
I did not bake a cake as he was not around to eat it. My brother lives on the other side of the world where the sun sets as it rises here in Sydney. Perhaps he will be here on one of his birthdays to perform the ‘great taste test’ with me.But our hearts are ever so close and securely fastened with a bond called family. A bond that celebrates childhood, big dreams, secrets and adventures. A bond that lives outside the touch of time.
A bond unique to a Big Sister and her Little Brother.
Double Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Fudge Frosting (adapted with a small variation from Joy of Baking)
Chocolate Cupcakes
Yields 16
1/2 cup (50 gms) dutch processed cocoa powder
1 cup (240 ml) boiling water
11/3 cups (175 gms) all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup (113 gms) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup (200 gms) granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 190 degrees C. Lightly butter, or line 16 muffin cups with paper liners.
In a small bowl stir until smooth the boiling water and cocoa powder. let cool to room temperature. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and chocolate chips.
Then in the bowl of your electric mixer or with a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at time, beating until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture and beat only until incorporated. Then add the cooled cocoa mixture and stir until smooth.
Fill each muffin cup about two-thirds full with batter and bake for about 16-20 minutes or until risen, springy to the touch and a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. (Do not over bake or the cupcakes will come out dry). Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
Once the cupcakes have completely cooled, frost with icing. You can either spread the frosting on the cupcakes with a small spatula or pipe lovely swirls.
These cupcakes are best the day they are made but can be stored for a few days.
Chocolate Fudge Frosting
120 gms unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
2/3 cup (150 gms) unsalted butter, room temperature
11/3 cups (160 gms) icing sugar sifted
11/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until smooth and creamy(about 1 min). Add the sugar and beat until it is light and fluffy(about 2 min). Beat in the vanilla extract. Add the chocolate and beat on low speed until incorporated. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until frosting is smooth and glossy (about 2-3 min).
Lovely post… Am sure there are many who would want to partake in the “great taste test”!
Thank you! Nothing would be give me more joy than to share my creations with others:-)
Your story about your brother is so sweet and your cupcakes look so delicious!
Thank you for your kind words!
What a beautiful story and delicious looking images! I know I would love to try one of these little treats.
I hope my children are as close as you and your brother. Thank you for popping by my site.
Thank you so much Julie! I am addicted to your blog. I can assure you that you have got yourself a stalker:-)
Lovely story and cute cupcakes!! 🙂
http://www.rita-bose-cooking.com/
Thank you for your time Rita!
Your photos and writing are brilliant my friend, what an awesome blog 😀
Cheers
CCU
That is very sweet of you. I love your blog CCU:-)
Hello dear,
Thanks for visiting my site and the lovely comments.
I’m glad to found you, wish I could eat your site right now: D sorry, it’s not me, it’s you who is posting lovely dessert with vivid pictures, they are enough to make us drool here. 😉
Have a good day ahead, take care, hope to see you back.
Thank You Rashida for your sweet words! You make me blush. Good day to you too and glad we connected:-)
Sonali: These cupcakes look fantastic! What better than these beauties to celebrate the bond between brother and sister? My sister still lives in Brazil. I do miss her a lot but , as you said above, we still have that “bond that lives outside the touch of time”…and place! Just like you and your brother.
Your have a beautiful blog with yummy recipes. Thanks for visiting me. Wishing you a wonderful day… xx
Thank you Denise! I have a sister too and if I begin to write about her, it could fill up a few posts. Wonderful day to you too. And I hope the two of you get together soon:-)
That was really a beautiful post to read, I hope you brought a happy tear to your brother’s eye 😉 Great cupcakes!
Thank you Evelyne! Ha ha…dont think he has read it yet. But I would love to his see his face:-)
This made me teary eyed! I’m very close with my brothers and sister and know how incredible and strong the kinship bond can be. Your brother is lucky to have such a caring sister like you, who will bake cupcakes on his birthday and send him warm wishes from a distance. These cupcakes look delicious and I love the story that goes along with them!!
Thank you Julia! Yes, family rocks! You are very sweet:-)Hugs!
this looks so good and chocolately!
Thank you Amy! Glad you stopped by:-)
My favorite post so far…so sweet and nostalgic. You have us both in tears!
I must try this recipe in honor of you and your brother. What great motivation!!
Love & hugs,
Lacy
Thank you Lacy! Miss you guys. The cupcakes are worth a try…very choclatey. Love to both of you:-)
your cupcakes look beautiful, I lover them, and this is a lovely post:)
Thank you Gloria! Glad to have connected:-)
I love chocolate cupcakes… Yours really look so delicious and tasty Sonali 🙂
What gorgeous cupcakes and so colorful and fancy 🙂 Love those pretty pink flags!
Luv,
Manju