Best Chocolate Pecan Cupcakes Recipes

PECAN PIE-FILLED CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. Make and bake cake mix as directed on box for 24 cupcakes. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make pecan pie filling and spiced-cream frosting: In 2-quart saucepan, combine granulated sugar, brown sugar and cornstarch. Stir in corn syrup, melted butter, salt and eggs. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, just until mixture begins to boil; remove from heat. Stir in toasted pecans and vanilla. Let stand 10 minutes; refrigerate 1 hour or until thickened.
• In 1-quart saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over water to soften; let stand 1 minute. Heat over low heat about 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until gelatin is dissolved. Let stand about 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until cooled to room temperature.
• In chilled large bowl, beat whipping cream with electric mixer on low speed, slowly adding cooled gelatin. Increase speed to medium; beat until soft peaks form. Add powdered sugar and vanilla; beat until stiff peaks form. Refrigerate until ready to frost cupcakes.
• To Fill and Frost Cupcakes: With melon baller, scoop out center of each cupcake almost to bottom of cupcake; spoon 1 tablespoon pecan pie filling into cavity of each. In 1-quart resealable food-storage plastic bag, cut 1/4-inch opening diagonally across bottom corner of bag; fit 1/2-inch star tip in opening. Spoon spiced-cream frosting into bag; seal bag. Pipe frosting onto cupcakes in circular motion. Refrigerate cupcakes until ready to serve. Just before serving, sprinkle cinnamon over cupcakes and garnish each cupcake with candied pecan. Store cupcakes loosely covered in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE BOURBON PECAN CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a regular-size cupcake pan with 12 cupcake liners.
• Combine the flour, granulated sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, milk, coffee, vegetable oil, vanilla and egg in a large bowl. Beat until smooth. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Cool the cupcakes completely.
• To assemble: Poke a hole into each cupcake with the handle of a wooden spoon. Fill the cupcakes with about 1 teaspoon Chocolate Bourbon Ganache. Generously frost the top of each cupcake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting. Place 2 pieces of Pecan Praline Cookie in the top of each cupcake.
• Beat the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until incorporated. Mix in the cocoa. Add the milk and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. Put the frosting into a pastry bag and cut 1/2-inch off the tip.
• Place the semisweet chocolate chips in a heatproof glass bowl. Add the heavy whipping cream, place in the microwave and melt in 30 second intervals until completely melted. Using a hand whisk, whip the melted chocolate and cream until smooth. Add the bourbon. Put the ganache in a pastry bag.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Place the heavy cream, granulated sugar and butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the flour and pecans. Spread the cookie batter onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let completely cool. When completely cooled, break into pieces.

CHOCOLATE-PECAN CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line 12 muffin cups with foil liners. Place egg whites, baking powder and vanilla in a large bowl; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating just until stiff but not dry. Gradually fold in grated chocolate, crackers and pecans., Fill prepared cups. Bake on lowest oven rack until puffed and tops appear dry (some tops may fall), 13-15 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely., For filling, in a large bowl, beat butter, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Gently fold in marshmallow creme. If centers of cupcakes have not already collapsed, gently press center with a small spoon to open cavity inside. Fill cupcakes; top with additional chocolate. Refrigerate leftovers.

CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 standard cupcake pans with 18 liners. In a medium bowl whisk together the buttermilk, canola oil and cocoa powder until smooth and creamy. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and greek yogurt with an electric mixer. Slowly add buttermilk and cocoa mixture. Combine on medium speed until silky and smooth. Beat in the sugar. Slowly add flour, salt and baking soda, combining on low speed until just incorporated. Fill baking cups three-fourths full. Bake for about 18-22 minutes. Allow to cool completely before filling. Meanwhile make the pecan pie filling: Combine 1/4 cup cold water with 2 tablespoons cornstarch, whisk until smooth. Add the brown sugar, corn syrup, eggs, salt and corn starch mixture to a sauce pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, whisking consistently for about 5 minutes. Do not stop whisking the mixture, especially in the beginning or you will end up with scrambled eggs. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the pecans and vanilla. Allow the mixture to cool a few minutes and then transfer to the fridge for at least one hour or until completely cooled and thickened. for the frosting: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil or a silicone baking mat. In a medium sauce pan, melt together 1/4 cup butter, cream, and brown sugar. Bring to a boil and boil for one minute. Remove from the heat and add to the bowl of a stand mixer. Place the bowl in the freezer (or fridge for longer) for 15-20 minutes or until cool. In a bowl whisk together 1 tablespoon vanilla, 2 tablespoons brown sugar and cinnamon. Add pecans and stir to coat evenly. Transfer nuts to prepared baking pan. Bake for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until toasted. Be careful not to burn them! Remove and toss the pecans with 1 tablespoon butter. Allow to cool 10 minutes, set aside. Now grab the cooled butter mixture and add the remaining 1/2 cup room temperature butter, vanilla and powdered sugar to the bowl and beat together until well combined. MIx in about 1/2 cup of the chopped pecans. If the frosting is not stiff enough to frost the cupcakes place it in the fridge for 20-30 minutes or the freezer for 5-15 minutes. Then remove and whip it for a few second to get everything smooth again. To assemble the cupcakes: Use a small paring knife to cut a cone-shaped piece from the center of each cupcake. Fill the hole with the cooled pecan pie filling. Add the frosting and sprinkle each cupcake with the remaining pecans.

COCONUT-PECAN CUPCAKES WITH CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. In a food processor, finely grind shredded coconut; transfer to a bowl. Process pecans with 2 tablespoons sugar until finely ground. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; stir in ground coconut and pecans.
• With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter, creamed coconut, and remaining sugar until pale and fluffy. Add extract and then eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of coconut milk, and beating until just combined after each.
• Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until golden and a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes (cupcakes will not be domed). Turn out cupcakes onto wire racks and let cool completely. Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.
• To finish, dip tops of cupcakes in chocolate glaze, then turn over quickly and garnish with toasted coconut. Cupcakes are best eaten the day they are glazed; keep at room temperature until ready to serve.