Earl Grey Chocolate Cupcakes with Honey-Lemon Buttercream
I miss my little yellow teapot. Though, it was never really mine. It belonged to the little townhouse I rented in Ireland. Every morning I would wake up, often before my roommates, and I would patter downstairs to the kitchen, crank up the heat, make myself a bowl of porridge oats, and brew a steamy pot of Earl Grey tea in that little yellow teapot. That tea was a necessity for many reasons. First of all, we had no coffee maker and, call me a snob, I refused to touch the Nescafe instant coffee jar in the cupboard. More importantly, that pot of Earl Grey did wonders against the dreary gray drizzle that is as common in Ireland as it is here in Seattle. The steam would work its way down my chest and into every limb, warming every inch of me in defense against the cold.
Needless to say, I have a soft spot for Earl Grey and all his bergamot loveliness.
I recently came across “We Should Cocoa”, a fairly new food blogging challenge that pairs chocolate with a special ingredient every month and asks you to come up with a recipe using the two (click the logo to check it out!). When I found it, the February challenge had just been revealed and to my delight the secret ingredient this month is “tea”. There was no doubt in my mind which tea I would be using.
If you’ve never tasted the exceptional pairing of citrusy Earl Grey and sensual chocolate, your are in for a real treat. The two flavors reveal each others’ subtle undertones to expose a perfect harmony of flavors. These cupcakes are dark and rich, yet slightly floral and bright on your tongue. I’d be happy to eat them plain, but some prefer their tea with honey, or honey buttercream in this case, with just a touch of lemon to play off the citrus notes of bergamot.
This month’s challenge was hosted by Choclette of the Chocolate Log Blog. Check out her site at the end of the month to see a round-up of all the recipes my fellow food bloggers came up with!
© Copyright 2011 Carly Sullivan, Tart to Heart
Yield: 1 dozen
Ingredients:
- 5 Tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 5 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 7 Tbsp cocoa powder, sifted (I used Hershey’s Special Dark)
- 2/3 cup water
- 3 Tbsp Earl Grey Tea Leaves, finely ground
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp sugar
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a muffin tin or line with paper cups.
- In a small saucepan, combine the butter, oil, cocoa powder and water. Using a coffee/spice grinder or a mortar and pestle, finely grind the tea leaves into a powder. Sift into the saucepan to remove any larger pieces. Heat over medium heat, while whisking, until the butter melts and the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and let steep for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl (or a stand mixer). Add the buttermilk and egg and stir gently to incorporate. Pour in the chocolate mixture and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin tin and bake for 15-20 minutes, rotating the pan 180 degrees about halfway through. Let cool in the pan at least 10 minutes before removing. Cool completely before frosting.
Honey-Lemon Buttercream
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
- 6 Tbsp honey
- 1/4 tsp lemon zest
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
Directions:
- Beat the softened butter and honey together in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer until fluffy. Add the lemon zest, vanilla and salt and beat to combine.
- With the mixer on low, gradually add the powdered sugar. Once all the sugar is mixed in, beat on high for 30 seconds to make sure the frosting is very creamy.
- Fill a piping bag with your favorite tip and decorate however you please! You can also garnish with some Conversation Hearts or other cute candies for a Valentine’s Day treat! Enjoy!
These look amazing and your writing is wonderful. Bet they really rev you up what with the chocolate and the tea! Great job….
Is it more delicious with fairtrade chocolate?
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Oooh, wow!!! I’ve been working on cooking with some smoky earl gray I have but never thought about pairing it with chocolate!! Thanks for the inspiration!
I really loves this idea. I may have to bake these!
Oh my, these look absolutely irresistible! How did you frost the cupcake in your first photo?
Thanks! I used a very large star tip, held it in the center of the cupcake, and squeezed until the frosting reached the edges of the cupcake. The trick is to just hold the tip steady!
Guess I’d need to get the nervous jitters out before trying that method… But it looks so pretty that I think I’ll give it a go anyway! Thanks for the tip!
Your cupcakes look delightful and I can imagine how well Earl Grey would combine with the chocolate and honey buttercream – yum. I live in Cornwall, which has that same grey drizzle that you have in Seattle – I grew up here and I love it. CT who came from a drier part of the country isn’t so sure. Thanks for entering our challenge.
So clever. These look amazing.
Your experience with tea in Ireland reminds me of my time in London, when I also began to appreciate tea much more than ever before. Now tea and cupcakes are two of my favorite things, and to see them combined in one recipe is so appealing. Absolutely brilliant!
Thanks so much!
Thanks for sharing..i will try the recipe..
Earl Grey is a really good tea — what a great idea to make a cupcake with it.
Yum! I love Earl Grey… and I love Hershey’s Dark Cocoa
That is the cutest cupcake stand thing that I have ever seen! Also, I need to make these because it sounds like an amazing combination of flavors!
Adorable! I love the candy heart!
Look at those cupcakes, they look really yummy
Mmm, Earl Grey tea has a special place in my heart too. Have you ever drank a London Fog? Earl Grey tea with steamed milk and a shot of vanilla syrup. Delicious!
No, I’ve never tried a London Fog, but it sounds delicious! And like another good cupcake flavor idea…
These look delicious! Im crazy for cupcakes!:)
I love that you lived in Ireland (I did too, in Limerick) and I LOVE this recipe. Adding to my “to make” list pronto. I have a love affair with Earl Grey & I’ve never turned down a homemade chocolate cupcake, sooo, these are right up my alley!
Oh, this sounds great. I was going to make some chocolate Nutella cupcakes today, but I think I’ll give these a whirl instead! It’s a chilly, sunless day here, so it sounds just the ticket.
Let me know how they turn out!
They were absolutely spectacular! Everyone I fed them to was raving, but I have to admit I kept most of them for myself. I had to use supermarket brand Earl Grey, so I can’t even imagine what they’re going to be like if I use *good* tea! Thank so much. This one’s going to be a staple.
I’m so glad you liked them!
Wow, those look simply sumptuous. I can’t wait to give this recipe a try!! A marriage of two of my favorite flavors! Thank you!
I saw this over at Persephone Magazine and think it looks great! A local coffee shop likes to make cakes with tea and I’ve enjoyed the one I had.
http://persephonemagazine.com/2011/02/open-thread-tgif-edition/
These look exquisite! Lovely to have you join the We Should Cocoa crew.
Wow these cupcakes look amazing! I have to bookmark this recipe to try. I’ve made Earl Grey cookies and am planning an earl grey and banana cake tomorrow but I’ve yet to try it with chocolate. Thanks and well done on your first we should cocoa challenge
Finally a use for all the Earl gray we wind up with, but don’t actually like drinking.
Hi Carly
I just made these babies – OMG!!! So rich and decadent! They are going to be popular at the office tomorrow! Also great buttercream recipe – nice and firm and great to pipe!
Fabulous! I’m so glad you liked them
Thanks for your wonderful comments!
absolutely beautiful! Earl Grey is one of my favorite favorite favorite ingredients to use in my baking- it pairs so well with so many things (especially orange- one of my favorites!).
Thanks for the cute post.
This looks amazing. I would never have thought to put earl grey tea in a cupcake. I’ve just started my blog studentbudgetfood please check it out. Xx
These look really awesome. I want to make them now.