Best Orange Choc Cupcakes W Nutella Ganache Filling And Hazelnut Recipes

ORANGE-CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Zest orange with a microplane, add to heavy cream and place it into the sauce pan.
• Heat the cream in a sauce pan over medium heat stirring constantly untill it comes to a boil. take off heat.
• add hot cream to chocolate in a medium bowl, stirring untill all chocolate has melted, add butter at once, and stir untill melted.
• chill untill thickened to spread on cakes, brownies, or cupcakes. pour over cakes or dip cupcakes while still liquid. chill untill firm.

GANACHE, SOFT FILLING FOR CHOCOLATES ETC...

Steps:

• To make chocolate cases: melt 200g ( 7 oz) chocolate over a pan of warm water, do not overheat, when three quarters of it is melted, remove from heat and stir vigorously, this should distribute the heat and melt the remaining chocolate without it getting too hot and going "grainy".
• Take a small teaspoon of melted chocolate and " paint" the inside of your mini muffin paper or the insides of your silicone ice block forms. If coverage is a bit skimpy don't panic. these set in the fridge in minutes and a second coat is easier and works better than trying to get one very thick coat. Put them in the fridge to harden. Reserve enough of your chocolate to cover the bottom of your forms once they have been filled with the ganache filling.
• Put butter and cream in a saucepan and bring to boil, stirring all the time.
• Remove from heat and add chocolate and liqueur.
• Stir well until smooth (heat of mixture will melt chocolate) leave to cool a little, then let cool.
• Use as soft filling for chocolates and tartes.
• This does thicken up over time, and good chocolate is never refrigerated, just kept in a cool dry place. If these are refrigerated the filling gets very firm over time.
• By now your ganache filling mixture should be cool enough to put into the chocolate cases, using a piping bag or a teaspoon, fill them with the ganache, (but not quite to the very top of the chocolate case) Then put them back into the fridge for a while, and once set a little solid, put a "top" of melted chocolate on them to seal them closed and refrigerate until the top too is solid. I like to keep these in the fridge for a least a few hours or somewhere nice and cool overnight before I try and get them out of the forms.
• If using mini muffin papers, peel away the papers from the chocolates (this can be fiddly, don't press too hard as you peel them or your chocolate will break), If using the silicone ice cube forms, GENTLY easy the chocolates out of the forms, they will just pop out -- plate up and amaze your guests with these divine triumphs !

ORANGE-CHOC CUPCAKES W/ NUTELLA GANACHE FILLING AND HAZELNUT

Steps:

• For the cupcake:.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for about 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, then the orange zest.
• Sift together 3 cups flour, the baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
• In another bowl, combine the orange juice, buttermilk, and vanilla.
• Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately in thirds to the creamed butter, beginning and ending with the flour.
• Melt the chocolate and add into the orange batter.
• Pour 2/3 full into the cupcake wrappers, smooth the top, and bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean.
• For the Hazlenut Buttercream Frosting:.
• Cream butter and shortening with mixer for 3 minutes on high speed.
• Add Frangelico.
• Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed.
• Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often.
• Mix on high speed for 5 minutes.
• For the Nutella Ganache:.
• Melt the Nutella and heavy cream in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until smooth and warm, stirring occasionally.
• After the cupcakes have had a chance to cool, scoop out the tops of the cupcakes with a melon baller and cut off the "cone" part of the middle.
• Drizzle in the Nutella ganache and replace the top of the cupcake.
• Spread with the hazelnut frosting.
• You can decorate them with leftover orange rind, but that's optional.