Hazelnut Cupcakes

makes 12 cupcakes

recipe adapted from Martha Stewart

prep time: 1 hr / cook time: 20-25 min

CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 c all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 c milk

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 c (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 c sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

1/2 c nutella

NUTELLA SWISS BUTTERCREAM INGREDIENTS

4 large egg whites, room temperature

1 1/4 c sugar

1 1/2 c (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened and cut into small pieces

1/2-2/3 c nutella

CUPCAKE INSTRUCTIONS

• Line the cupcakes of a standard cupcake tin and preheat oven to 350˚ F.

• In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.

• In a liquid measuring-up, mix milk and vanilla; set aside.

• In an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.

• Add one egg at a time, beating well after each addition.

• With mixer on low speed, add half of the dry ingredients.

• Followed by milk-vanilla mixture.

• Mix in remaining dry ingredients. Do not overmix.

• Divide batter evenly among prepared cupcake tin.

* 2 oz. or 1/4 cup ice-cream scoop is good for this.

• Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean.

• Cool cupcakes for 5 minutes in tin, then remove and cool completely on a rack.

NUTELLA SWISS BUTTERCREAM INSTRUCTIONS

• Place whites and sugar in a heatproof mixer bowl set over a pot of simmering water. Whisk until sugar dissolves and mixture registers 160˚ on a candy thermometer.

• Remove from heat, and attach bowl to a mixer. Whisk on medium speed for 5 minutes.

• Increase speed to medium high, and whisk until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 6 minutes.

Reduce speed to medium, and add butter, 1 piece at a time, whisking well after each addition.

• Switch to a paddle attachment. With mixer on low, add nutella, and beat until smooth, 3 to 5 minutes. Use immediately, or cover, and refrigerate.

* Start off with 1/2 cup of nutella and taste to see how intense you want the flavor to be before adding more.

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

• Using a paring knife, carve a small hole in the middle of hte cupcake. Be sure not to cut too deep.

* You can use a spoon to gently remove more of the cupcake if needed.

• Spoon in a bit of nutella into the cupcake.

• Put the top back onto the cupcake and frost the top.

** ADDIECAKES' NOTES **

• The cupcake dries out a bit, so it's best to be eaten the same day.

• You can half the frosting recipe as it makes enough for two dozen cupcakes . . . or you can double the cupcake recipe.

• I do not suggest making the buttercream the night before or refrigerating it for a couple hours. The texture and color changes, so if you are going to refrigerate it, do so only to help tighten up the frosting, more than an hour.

ADDIECAKES' DIFFICULTY RATING

ADDIECAKES' TASTE RATING