Chocolate Cupcakes With Neapolitan Frosting Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Place white paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
• Make cake mix as directed on box for cupcakes, using water, oil and egg whites and adding almond extract and vanilla. Pour half of batter into small bowl; stir in cocoa and 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Divide chocolate batter evenly among muffin cups. Carefully spoon white batter evenly over chocolate batter.
• Bake as directed on box. Cool 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Frost cupcakes with a layer of chocolate frosting, white frosting and strawberry frosting. Decorate with candy sprinkles and additional chocolate chips.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line muffin pans with paper liners.
• For the chocolate cupcakes: In a medium bowl, cream together both sugars and the oil. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in the milk until the batter is smooth. Set aside.
• For the strawberry cupcakes: In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, cream cheese, granulated sugar and gelatin. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and then stir in the vanilla. Combine the cake flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in the milk and strawberries until the batter is smooth. Set aside.
• For the vanilla cupcakes: In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, cream cheese and granulated sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in the milk until the batter is smooth. Set aside
• Use a miniature cupcake scooper and scoop all three batters into the cupcake liner. First scoop the chocolate batter, second the strawberry batter and third the vanilla batter. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. The cupcakes are done when they spring back to the touch. Let cool.
• For the chocolate frosting: In a small bowl, melt the chocolate in the microwave starting at 30 seconds and stir. Melt in increments of 30 seconds as needed so that you do not burn or overheat the chocolate.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, melted chocolate and vanilla until mixed well. Then add the confectioners' sugar.
• For the strawberry frosting: In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter. Add the confectioners' sugar and strawberry extract.
• For the vanilla frosting: In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter. Add the confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract.
• To assemble: After all the cupcakes have cooled, frost each cupcake in the same order you placed the batter (chocolate, strawberry, vanilla).

Steps:

• Heat oven to 170C/150C fan/gas 3. Line a cupcake tin with cases. Cream the sugar with the butter using an electric whisk, until combined. Crack in the egg and add the vanilla extract, then whisk to combine. Add half the flour, the baking powder and a pinch of salt, whisk to combine, then add half the milk and whisk briefly again. Repeat to use the remaining flour and milk. Don't worry if the mixture seems loose.
• Spoon about half the mixture into a separate bowl, add the cocoa and chocolate chips and stir well to combine.
• Using a teaspoon, divide the chocolate mixture between the 12 cupcake cases. Use a wooden skewer to spread the mixture evenly to the edges. Rinse and dry the teaspoon then repeat with the vanilla layer, taking care not to disturb the chocolate below and spreading to the edges again.
• Bake for 25 mins. Leave to cool slightly in the tin before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• To make the frosting, sift the icing sugar, then combine with the butter using an electric whisk. It will look crumbly initially - persevere and it will come together. If you're icing is too stiff, add 1 tbsp milk to the mixture. Carefully add 1-2 drops of the food colouring and combine to make a pale pink frosting to ice the cakes. When you cut them in half, the coloured layers will be revealed.