Birthday Cupcakes

There's nothing like a birthday to give you the excuse to bring out the cannister of sugar.  Boy do I love birthdays.  No, dear readers, it is not MY birthday, it is my husband's birthday! Happy birthday, husband.  In honor of his 26th birthday and because I am finding myself more and more smitten with Smitten Kitchen, I whipped up a batch of Root Beer Float Cupcakes.  (Recipe here!)

You begin by heating the root beer (I used Virgils, but any kind made with cane sugar should work), cocoa powder, and butter together over medium heat.  Then you whisk in the white sugar and the brown sugar after the butter has melted.

Remove from heat and let cool.  Meanwhile, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.  In another bowl, whisk eggs until just beaten and then add that to the cooled chocolate mixture.  Fold flour mixture into the chocolate/egg mixture.  Result will be lumpy, but that's ok.  You don't want to overbeat this....DO NOT USE YOUR STAND MIXER!!  Using a 1/4 c. measuring cup, fill cupcake papers.

Bake at 350°F for 15-17 minutes or until tester inserted comes out clean.  (A toothpick works for this if you don't have a tester...)

Also from Smitten Kitchen, comes the frosting.  I used her Seven-Minute Frosting recipe which is exactly as easy as it sounds.  And as delicious as it looks. 

Well, friends, it's been fun, but I have to go eat a cupcake.

And then it's on to dinner.  The birthday boy has requested spicy turkey burgers with sweet potato fries and homemade aioli.  Stay tuned!