Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

Chocolate Chip Cupcakes (from here)

• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg, at room temperature
• 2 cups cake flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 cup milk, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugar, beat in egg. Combine flour, salt and baking powder in one bowl; combine the milk, vanilla and oil in another. Then, mix them into the creamed mixture alternately. Stir in chocolate chips and spoon into cupcake liners. Bake at 350 degrees for 17 minutes. Cool, then frost with chocolate frosting. Makes 20. 

Note: I think 1 cup of chocolate chips was a bit much; 1/2 to 3/4 cup should be fine.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting (from here)

• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 4 tablespoons heavy cream

Cream the butter for a minute or two until lighter and fluffy. Mix in salt and vanilla. Beat in powdered sugar and cocoa. Add cream, a tablespoon at a time, until frosting reaches desired consistency.

Note: One half of this recipe was enough to frost the 20 cupcakes, using a spatula and not piping on a pile.