Brownie Batter Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes

I found our go-to chocolate cupcake recipe on a food and travel blog, http://www.kevinandamanda.com. Currently, their most recent post is about hiking the Dolomites of Italy. You will feel the need to hike somewhere after consuming one of these rich, indulgent treats! Making these cupcakes is a multi-step process, so I usually start the night before.

Brownie Batter Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes
Makes about 33-36

Brownie Batter

• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk (I use what's leftover to make Iced Coffee)
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 (15.25 oz.) devil's food cake mix (I use dark chocolate/fudge)

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes until well combined. A word of caution: it's like mixing concrete! Using a small scoop (about 1.5 tbsp.) drop batter onto a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper and freeze overnight.

Cupcakes

• 1 box devil's food or dark chocolate cake mix
• 1 (3.9 oz) box instant chocolate fudge pudding mix
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 cups mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray muffin tins with cooking spray and line with cupcake liners. Combine all ingredients except chocolate chips in a very large bowl and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes until well combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Using a large scoop, drop batter into the cupcake wells, filling about two-thirds full. Remove brownie batter balls from freezer and press into the cupcake batter. Bake 22-28 minutes, or until the outsides of the cupcakes collapse into the brownie depressions in the centers. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

Frosting

• 5 sticks butter, softened
• 8 oz. (about 2 cups) powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa)
• 1 1/2 cups light corn syrup
• a pinch of salt
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 16 oz. milk chocolate chips

Melt chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring well every 30 seconds. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes. Combine butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt and mix until smooth. Add the corn syrup and vanilla and mix until just combined. Add the melted chocolate and mix until creamy. 

Enjoy!