Chocolate cupcakes are filled with a fudgy chocolate ganache, topped with my favorite mascarpone whipped cream, chopped nuts and a cherry - like a hot fudge sundae!
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a muffin pan with 12 liners and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
2 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 cup + 2 teaspoons dutch process cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt
In a large bowl, mash avocado to make it as smooth as possible. You can toss it in a food processor to get it really smooth if you're low on time (or energy).
1 cup around 2 avocados, mashed
Add sugar, vanilla and water, stir with a wooden spoon to combine until smooth.
1 cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 1 cup hot water
Using a 1/4 measuring cup, pour batter into cupcake liners until almost full. Bake for 17-20 minutes (I only needed 17). A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean, and the tops should be cracked a bit and spring back when touched.
Ganache
Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat, add chocolate chips and let sit for a minute.
3/4 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips, 1/2 cup heavy cream
Stir with whisk until smooth. Set aside.
Frosting
In a large bowl, combine mascarpone cheese, sugar and vanilla on a high speed until completely combined.
4 ounces mascarpone cheese, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Add heavy cream and mix on a low setting until it is mostly combined. Now increase speed to high and whip until stiff peaks form - it may take a little while, so be patient! Set aside.
1 cup heavy cream
Now cut out the center of each of your cupcakes with a knife or a cupcake corer (I love mine!) and eat discard all but the very top of each core - you're going to plop that back on top once the cupcakes are filled.
Pipe chocolate ganache into the center of each cupcake until almost filled to the top, and then place the cut-out top back in its place.
Pipe frosting onto the top of each cupcake and garnish with chopped nuts and a cherry. Serve and enjoy!