Chocolate cake with prunes is a completely unique phenomenon. At least, that’s the thought that comes to mind for all the desperate sweet-tooth eaters who have tried this pastry. The not too sugary taste of the cupcake is set off by sweet prunes with a light smoky flavor that seems simply designed to accentuate the chocolate notes. The velvety texture of the pastry, on the other hand, mesmerizes from the first bite, immediately followed by a second or even a third. Keep in mind that from the specified number of ingredients, the chocolate cupcake with prunes turns out quite large. And if your family can’t eat it all at once, don’t feel bad: this pastry keeps well in foil, getting tastier every day.
Ingredients
250g flour
200g butter
250g sugar
4 eggs
6 tbsp cocoa
100 g chocolate
150 g prunes
100 ml of brandy
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
100g chocolate to cover
Step by step recipe
Step 1.
Prepare the prunes for the chocolate cupcake. Cut the fruit into small pieces and place in a bowl. Fill with cognac and leave in a cool place for at least 8 hours.
Step 2
Preheat the oven to 200°C. Butter and sprinkle a small amount of flour into a muffin tin with a tube in the middle, about 2.4 liters.
Step 3.
Break the chocolate for the cupcake batter into small pieces and put it in a bowl. Melt it in the microwave or in a water bath until smooth. Allow to cool slightly.
Step 4
With an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until lightly creamy. Add the melted chocolate and vanilla extract and whisk again. As you continue to whisk, add 1 egg at a time, each time waiting for the egg to completely blend into the butter mixture.
Step 5
Sift the flour with the coco, baking powder and salt through a fine sieve and add in batches to the butter mixture. At the end, add the prunes and mix the muffin batter with a spatula.
Step 6
Place the batter in the prepared mold and bake for 35-40 minutes, until tender. Cool the cupcake in the mold, 10 minutes, then invert onto a rack and cool completely.
Step 7.
Melt chocolate for the frosting and gently pour over the prune cupcake. Allow to set. You can sprinkle the chocolate cupcake with powdered sugar before serving.
Useful tip
If you absolutely do not want to soak prunes for chocolate cake in an alcoholic beverage, use grape, apple or orange juice.
By the way
Want to make your chocolate prune muffin even more tender and flavorful? Replace 50 g of flour with the same amount of ground walnuts or almonds.