Thank you to Ghirardelli for sponsoring this post.
Buttermilk Chocolate Cupcakes with Whipped Ganache Frosting – Moist chocolate cupcakes topped off with a decadent Ghirardelli dark chocolate ganache frosting. Add a Ghirardelli Impressions chocolate for the finishing touch, and you have the perfect Valentine’s Day treat!
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I’ve had chocolate on the brain a lot lately. I tend to have chocolate on the brain pretty often anyway, but when you’re celebrating the day of love, there’s really no better way to show someone how much you care about them than with a gloriously delicious chocolate treat.
And so I give you these Buttermilk Chocolate Cupcakes with a Whipped Ganache Frosting, made from my all-time favorite Ghirardelli Chocolate. Insert swoon here. 😉
Valentine’s Day has always been a very special day in my family because it is actually my parents’ anniversary. My mom and dad always took the time to make Valentine’s Day extra special for everyone in the house, from fun presents, special dinners, or sweet treats. We always enjoyed taking part in the celebration of their love for each other.
My mom would usually have a fun and chocolaty dessert for us to enjoy after dinner on Valentine’s Day, and I can just picture these Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes sitting right there on our family dinner table.
For the cupcakes, I used my favorite simple and easy homemade chocolate cake recipe. The cupcakes came out perfectly moist and fluffy, and were just begging for a truly decadent topping, so I made a whipped ganache frosting using Ghirardelli 60% Cacoa Baking Chips. These baking chips give the best taste and texture to any baked, chocolaty treat you can dream up!
Finally, to up the fun factor for Valentine’s Day, I finished them off with some Ghirardelli Valentine’s Day Impressions Chocolates, which are the coolest version of conversation hearts I’ve ever seen! I used the milk and white chocolate combination, but they are also available in milk and dark chocolate.
I’m excited to spend Valentine’s Day with my husband this year since he was actually on a work trip in Thailand this time last year. We are planning to go out for dinner, but we will still spend most of the day at home with the kids, and I’m hoping to make it fun for them like it was for me growing up. While I was making these cupcakes, I was reminded of all of fun desserts I used to make with my mom and how she was always so patient with us in the kitchen.
I love to let my own little ones help out when I’m cooking or baking, so I think we might make another batch of these cupcakes together on Valentine’s Day. We are a family of chocolate lovers, after all.
Buttermilk Chocolate Cupcakes with Whipped Ganache Frosting
Ingredients
Whipped Chocolate Ganache Frosting:
- 16 oz. Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Baking Chips
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
Cupcakes:
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup hot water
Instructions
- To make ganache frosting, pour baking chips into a large, heat-safe bowl. Bring heavy cream to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently. Once cream begins to bubble and steam, remove from heat and pour over baking chips. Place a clean kitchen towel over the bowl, and allow to sit undisturbed for five minutes.
- After five minutes, remove towel and begin to stir ganache slowly with a whisk. Continue whisking until smooth and velvety.
- At this point, you can use the ganache right away if you want a simple glaze. If you want a whipped frosting, however, the ganache needs time to cool and thicken. Allow the ganache to thicken on the counter at room temperature, and after about 2 hours it should come out looking like this.
- While ganache is cooling, begin making cupcakes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two muffin tins with cupcake liners and set aside. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix well.
- Add in vanilla, eggs, buttermilk, and vegetable oil mixing until smooth. Pour in hot water and mix well. Batter will be very thin.
- Pour batter into prepared cupcake liners, about 2/3 full. Bake in preheated oven for 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Once ganache has thickened, beat over medium speed with an electric mixer until frosting is lighter in texture and color, about 3-4 minutes.
- Frost cupcakes with a piping bag or simply dollop on with a spoon. Top with decorations of your choosing if you wish. I used some sprinkles and fun Ghirardelli Valentine's Day Impressions chocolates. Enjoy!
Nutrition
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Becky Brown says
These are fantastic. I want to make these again for a wedding shower. Can I bake the cakes on Friday, store them in the fridge, and then apply the icing on Sunday. Or, can ice them earlier (Friday or Saturday) and store in fridge?
Cecilia says
Love these cupcakes, they are so good and the recipe easily cuts in half ( makes plenty for the two of us) They freeze well, so whenever we want a sweet snack they are available. Don’t even bother with a frosting most of the time. My only mod is I add a teaspoon or so of instant espresso powder for an extra kick.
Stacey @ SimplyStaceyNicole says
I made this for my son’s 4th birthday party. It was a wildly huge success! I made my son a small, 8” double layer cake with the whipped ganache in the middle plus frosting. Rest of batter and frosting made cupcakes.
This was a restaurant tasting cake for sure and extremely easy to make! I wish I had more reasons to make this but it’s probably best I don’t because I’d eat the thing myself!
Rose Jones says
Mine was a big fail my Gnash didn’t second at all and I waited over two hours and my cupcakes or just a big fail they didn’t rise would love some feedback on where I possibly went wrong
michele says
These cupcakes are deliciously beautiful works of art. I love the inclusion of buttermilk in the recipe. I always seem to have a cup or two left over from other recipes and this cupcakes would be perfect!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
Delicious! I love me some good chocolate cupcakes!
Tina Welch says
The best from scratch cupcakes as kes iv ed ever made! They rose so well! We don’t like chocolate on chocolate so I frosted them with vanilla buttercream & colored red & pink sugar crystals for Valentine’s day! So yummy!
Noelle says
These were delightful! Love the flavors, thank you! Everyone really enjoyed
Tammy says
These are so pretty!! I wish I could reach in and grab one right now. These are perfect for any occasion not just V-Day!
Kristen says
These cupcakes are amazing! Thank you for the great recipe!
Becky at Cooking with Vinyl says
Oh my, these look amazing. The photos are really pretty. I’m a new food blogger and found you on a link party. I’ve followed your social sites and hope we can connect on those. Can’t wait to read more of your blog. Becky
Ashlyn says
Thank you so much for following along, Becky, and welcome to the fun world of food blogging! 🙂 So glad you found me!
Amanda says
Oh my word… those have to be the most heavenly chocolate cupcakes I’ve ever seen! Beautiful presentation as well 😀 Pinning!
Ashlyn says
Thank you, Amanda! We LOVED them!
Jaren (Diary of a Recipe Collector) says
Your cupcakes look so fabulous! I love using good chocolate in my recipes! I need to tell my hubby I want some of those cute chocolates for Valentine’s Day too!
Ashlyn says
Thanks Jaren! And those chocolates are the cutest! We just sent some in a package to grandparents! 🙂
Laura O |Petite Allergy Treats says
SO pretty girl! Love how all the quality chocolate in here! Ghiradelli is the best!
Ashlyn says
Thanks friend! And YES Ghirardelli is my FAVE!
Kelley says
Gah these look amazing! Anytime I hear Ghirardelli I think of Chicago because they have a Ghirardelli store. That place is pure heaven! They even have ice cream. Which would go perfect with these cupcakes! YUMMM
Ashlyn says
A Ghirardelli STORE?! I need to book a plane ticket there. I can just imagine how amazing that place must be!
Becky | The Cookie Rookie says
These are so adorable! Beautiful photos!
Ashlyn says
Thank you, Becky!
Cate @ Chez CateyLou says
You have achieved chocolate cupcake perfection! These look delicious! And the Ghirardelli squares are the perfect decoration – so cute!
Ashlyn says
Thanks girl! These were SO much fun to make!
Annie @Maebells says
Ashlyn I adore this!! I love baking with buttermilk, it adds the best texture and flavor! And that frosting! Oh my! I need it! 🙂
Ashlyn says
Thank you, Annie! And I LOVE buttermilk, too! It really gives these so much flavor. 🙂
Lauern | From Everyday to gourmet says
I am so cursing my diet right now – I WANT THOSE!! Pinned!
Ashlyn says
Oh I know, these pretty much trashed my diet! But hey, there’s always tomorrow to start over, right?!
Beth says
I need to buy some of those valentine’s heart chocolates! I’ve seen so many good ideas with them, including yours Ashlyn!
Ashlyn says
Thank you so much, Beth!
diedre says
It doesn’t say whether which Ghirardelli to get. All they had was Bittersweet.. so I am going to use that….I plan on making this for a friend for his birthday since he loves chocolate. …. by chance do you have a good chocolate rich brownie without the frosting recipe?
Ashlyn says
Hi Diedre, the type of Ghirardelli chocolate is listed in the frosting ingredients. It’s the 60% Cacao Baking Chips, so the bittersweet that you bought should be fine. I didn’t use any Ghirardelli chocolate in the cupcakes. I don’t have a homemade brownie recipe on my blog, but this one sounds pretty good: http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2014/04/30/chewy-fudgy-homemade-brownies/