Devil's Food Cupcake with Buttercream Frosting

Directions

1. Devil's Food Cupcake
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together cocoa and hot water until smooth.
4. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
5. Melt butter with sugar in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring to combine. Remove from heat, and pour into a mixing bowl.
6. With an electric mixer on medium-low speed, beat until mixture is cooled, 4 to 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
7. Add vanilla, then cocoa mixture, and beat until combined. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the sour cream, and beating until just combined after each.
8. Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three- quarters full.
9. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes.
10. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool 15 minutes; turn out cupcakes onto racks and let cool completely. Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.

1. Buttercream Frosting
2. Beat butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and creamy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium. Add sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, beating after each addition, about 5 minutes. (After every 2 additions, increase speed to high, and beat for 10 seconds, then reduce speed to medium-high).
3. Add vanilla, and beat until butter-cream is smooth. Add food coloring.
4. I used an Ateco piping tube #829 to pipe frosting. Drop Sugar sprinkles over frosting to decorate.
5. If you are not using frosting immediately, you can cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. (Bring to room temperature when ready to use and beat on low speed until smooth before using.)