Chocolate Cupcakes with Fudgy Frosting

There are countless recipes all over the internet, and in cookery books, for the classic chocolate cupcake. Having tried many of them, I can empathize with your disappointment when a recipe you have high expectations for - and anything that involves chocolate, for me, oozes with this - produces a result that is less than satisfactory. But never fear - from this day forward you can make chocolate cupcakes safe in the knowledge that they will definitely NOT be a dry, tasteless waste of time; they will NOT fail to please. So, without further ado, here is your new favourite chocolate cupcake recipe (with the best chocolate fudge frosting - seriously).

Chocolate Cupcakes with Fudgy Frosting

175g self raising flour

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

150g caster sugar

2 eggs, beaten

150ml sunflower oil

150ml semi skimmed milk

2 tbsp golden syrup

Fudgy Chocolate Frosting:

75g unsalted butter

175g icing sugar

3 tbsp cocoa powder

Drop of milk

Preheat oven to 180ºC and line a 12-hole muffin tin.

Sieve the flour, cocoa, bicarbonate of soda and sugar into a bowl. 

Make a well in the centre and add the syrup, eggs, oil and milk. 

Beat well with electric whisk until smooth.

Spoon the mixture into the muffin cases and bake for 15-20 minutes.

Fudgy Chocolate Frosting:

Place the butter in a bowl and beat until soft. 

Gradually sift in the icing sugar, followed by the cocoa powder.

Add enough milk to make the icing smooth and spreadable.

Pipe or spread over the cooled cupcakes.