110g butter, room temperature
175g caster sugar
4 eggs, separated
110g almond meal/ground almonds
110g dark chocolate, very finely chopped or grated
150ml milk
175g self-raising flour
Preheat your oven to 170℃ and line two 12-hole muffin tins with paper cups.
Add the butter and caster sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream together until very pale and fluffy.
Add the egg yolks to a bowls and whisk together.
Run the mixer on low speed and add a spoonful of the yolks at a time. Beat well after each addition.
Remove the mixing bowl from the mixer and fold in the chopped chocolate, almond meal and milk.
Add the egg whites to a clean mixing bowl and beat with an electric whisk until soft peak stage.
Gently fold the whites into the almond mixture.
Now add the flour and gently fold it in with a spatula.
Spoon the mixture into the 24 paper cases and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Cool the cupcakes on a cooling rack before icing/decorating.
Chocolate Ganache:
160g chocolate
125ml heavy cream
Chop the chocolate into pieces and place it in a heatproof mixing bowl.
Pour the cream into a small saucepan on medium heat. Take the cream from the heat as soon as small bubbles appear at the edges of the saucepan.
Pour the cream onto the chopped chocolate and allow to stand for 2 minutes.
Now stir the mixture until the chocolate has melted and it is completely smooth and silky.
Cool completely before whipping for 4 minutes.
Use to decorate.
My Whisk and I 