Night-and-Day Cupcakes

I assume the “night-and-day”-part refers to the combination of chocolate (night) and cream cheese (day). Or, the fact that you can eat these cupcakes night-and-day. Whichever it is, I'm glad I made them. I was favoring the cappucino cupcakes in the poll, but these are the rightful winner with 57% of your votes. They are a typical Nigella Lawson-cupcake, and what I mean by that, is that the cake comes out perfectly flat and the icing is rather runny and spreadable. Chocolate cupcakes with a cream cheese/lime juice frosting might seem odd, but I was pleasantly surprised! Rating: 4- out of 5.

Night-and-Day Cupcakes recipe: Nigella Lawson - How To Be A Domestic Goddess

Ingredients for Cupcakes:
- 2 scant tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons boiling water
- ¼ cup sugar
- scant ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- ¾ cup self-rising cake flour
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup very soft unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon milk

Ingredients for Frosting:
- 1 ⅓ cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- juice of ½ lime or 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 12 chocolate-coated coffee beans or bittersweet chocolate shavings (I omitted this)

Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Mix the cocoa to a paste with the boiling water and set aside while you make the cupcake mixture.
- This couldn't be easier: Just put the sugars, flour, eggs, and butter in the processor and blitz to combine smoothly. Scrape the mixture from the sides and then pulse while you add the cocoa paste, vanilla and milk down the funnel. You should have a batter with a soft dropping consistency: If not, add a little more milk. Dollop into the paper baking cups in the pan and bake for 20 minutes, until an inserted cake tester comes out clean.
- Leave in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove, in the paper baking cups, to a wire rack. When cool, make the frosting by beating together the sifted confectioners' sugar and cream cheese till soft. Add lime or lemon juice to taste and then spread roughly over the waiting cupcakes. Stud each one with a chocolate-coated coffee bean or shave over some bittersweet chocolate.


Voilà!


I was very scared of the combination of chocolate, cream cheese and lime juice. But I have to say, these three flavors complement each other incredibly. A refreshing change taste!


Gold wrappers makes all cupcakes look chic!


Nigella writes: “This uses my favorite combination of densely sweet and smoothly sharp.”

Comments

Lilacandgrey said…
i don't really like chocolate, but I would try these!
<3 Cara
Lian said…
they look very chic indeed. I know cream cheese and chocolate go together really well, but now I'm also very curious about that combination with lime...
Anonymous said…
Those look so good ~ I love the gold wrappers. xo
A Bowl Of Mush said…
Ooh these look very delicious!!
I'maNolaGirl said…
Those golden wrappers are fabulous! These sound so delicious. Maybe I can start my diet tomorrow and make these today?!
so simple yet looks so delicious! i love the gold liners
Eliana said…
Cream cheese and lime frosting - that sounds super delish!!!!
Snooky doodle said…
these look nice apart from yummy :)
Lot-O-Choc said…
Oooh wow the gold wrappers make these look stunning :).
Ive never had cream cheese frosting before I may have to try it hehe :)
Christiana said…
Yummy, i love the gold wrapper, and everything with cream cheese is amazing!!

http://petittreat.blogspot.com/
Oh my love your styling in the last picture!! Big snaps to you! :-)

Yes day and night means eating them day and night obviously!!! ;-)
xx
I like the title (it's cute) and these look mighty delicious too :).
If someday i will be in Paris, i will surely get some of this and taste it myself.

Popular Posts