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Spiced Nutella Cupcakes

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Soft and moist spice cake is even better with Nutella added to the batter.  Topped off with an indulgent and creamy chocolate whipped Nutella frosting, these cupcakes may look basic, but are anything but!Spiced Nutella Cupcakes

A couple of weeks ago I discovered that I had never posted a cupcake recipe to AHB. In three years, not a single one. How can I even call myself a baker?  I don’t even know how that happened because I make cupcakes fairly regularly. With 4 kids at home, how could I not? I’ll be remedying the lack of delicious cupcake recipes problem starting today with these Nutella Spice Cupcakes. And don’t worry, there will be more cupcakes coming too!Spiced Nutella Cupcakes ready to bake.

My Nutella spice cupcakes take the classic spice cake recipe and kind of turn it on it’s head a bit. With the flavors of hazelnut, chocolate, cardamom, and nutmeg, these cupcakes are a bit more refined than your average spice cake.  Of course the cake is tender and moist, like any good cake recipe should be. But the real star of this cupcake is the chocolate whipped Nutella frosting.Spiced Nutella Cupcakes

You might have noticed from the glaze on my caramel apple scones last week, but I am a glaze and frosting and cover it with something sweet and absolutely delicious kind of gal. Here is the criteria by which I judge any frosting: if it doesn’t taste good enough that I am tempted to eat it plain by itself by the spoonful, then it has no business going on my cake! I admit I am a bit of a frosting snob and I often just scrape store bought frosting off my cake to eat the cake plain rather than load up on fake shortening tasting frosting. (Sorry if this offends you. I’ve seen many shocked faces through the years as I plop the scraped frosting into the trash can and eat my plain cake.) Ingredients for Chocolate Whipped Nutella Frosting

Today’s frosting is super easy to make, you simply melt together unsalted butter, chocolate chips, Nutella, and heavy cream.To do this, I have some stainless steel mixing bowls that I set on the top of a pan of simmering water, but you can also melt the frosting ingredients in the microwave. Just make sure you do it low and slow, don’t allow anything to come to a boil. Allow this mixture to chill completely. This is the longest  and hardest step in the recipe, leaving that bowl of chocolatey Nutella goodness alone to get completely cold, but then it will whip up into a fluffy frosting that practically melts in your mouth.Spiced Nutella Cupcakes

This frosting tastes like heaven, but it’s not stable enough to be piped and hold it’s shape well. And boy howdy, just a warning,  you do not want to leave these cupcakes in a hot car because this frosting will melt and run like none other. I recommend old school spreading it on your cupcakes or using a plain tip to pipe it on…even though it does kind of look like a poop emoji that way. (According to my boys anyway. LOL.) Spiced Nutella Cupcakes

Spiced Nutella Cupcakes

Spiced Nutella Cupcakes

Yield: 24
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Soft and moist spice cake is even better with Nutella added to the batter. Topped off with an indulgent and creamy chocolate whipped Nutella frosting, these cupcakes may look basic, but are anything but basic!

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes

  • 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temp
  • 1/4 cup Nutella
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2/3 cup milk

For the Frosting

  • 1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup Nutella
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream

Instructions

To Prepare the Cupcakes

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. and prepare your cupcake pans with paper liners. 
  2. Add to a medium sized mixing bowl the flour, baking powder, salt, cardamom, and nutmeg. Stir it lightly to combine and set aside. 
  3. In another medium sized mixing bowl, cream together 3/4 cup butter and sugar until the butter is light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. 
  4. On low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and the milk. Beating until the cake batter is just blended. 
  5. Divide the batter evenly among the cavities in the pan, filling 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until the cupcake tops spring back lightly when touched. 
  6. Let cool in the pans for 5 minutes and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

To Prepare the Frosting

  1. Prepare a double boiler or fill a small saucepan with water and bring to a low simmer. Add the frosting ingredients to a heat proof bowl and place the bowl securely on the top of the pan of simmering water. Heat and stir the frosting ingredient until the chocolate chips are completely melted and the mixture is smooth. 
  2. Refrigerate until completely chilled. 
  3. Once the frosting has completely chilled, beat on high speed until it becomes light and fluffy. Spread or pipe on top of the cupcakes. 

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a review or a photo! I'd love to hear your feedback!

Spiced Nutella Cupcakes

Jacque Hastert

Tuesday 4th of December 2018

I am a lover of all things Nutella and chocolate. I am saving this recipe for very near future use.

Tara

Tuesday 4th of December 2018

Yum! These cupcakes look absolutely delicious. I love that Nutella frosting on top paired with the nutella cardamom cupcakes.

Emily

Tuesday 4th of December 2018

My kids are Nutella fiends so they will love these.

Luci

Tuesday 4th of December 2018

This cupcakes look so yummy. A great combo of spices and chocolate. You will always win with Nutella.

Jessica Formicola

Tuesday 4th of December 2018

I love the flavor of these cupcakes! I can't wait to make them!

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