Steps to Prepare Chocolate Cayenne Cupcakes

Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes

The first round got a little too much cayenne so for the second and third batches i toned it down a half.

Recipe Summary Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes

I just love chocolate but I am not the hottest for really rich food during the summer, so a nice alternate to this dilemma is zucchini-chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese icing!

Ingredients | Chocolate Cayenne Cupcakes

1 cup pecans

1 tablespoon butter

cooking spray

3 cups grated zucchini

1 ½ cups vegetable oil

3 eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour

3 cups white sugar

10 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

½ cup salted butter, softened

2 cups white sugar

1 teaspoon almond extract

Directions

Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler. Spread pecans onto a baking sheet. Cut butter into small pieces and scatter on top of pecans.

Broil in the preheated oven until pecans start to turn golden brown and become fragrant, about 5 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning. Remove from oven and allow to cool, about 10 minutes. Transfer pecans to a cutting board and smash or crush into small pieces.

Turn off broiler and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 18 cups of a muffin tin with paper liners. Spray inside of liners with cooking spray.

Combine zucchini, oil, and eggs in a large mixing bowl.

Mix flour, sugar, toasted pecans, sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Add zucchini mixture and stir to combine. Fill muffin tin cups 3/4 full with batter.

Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.

While cupcakes bake, cut softened cream cheese and butter into small pieces and place in a mixing bowl. Add sugar and almond extract. Mix icing using an electric mixer until smooth, about 5 minutes. Store in the refrigerator until use.

Remove cupcakes from the oven and let cool completely before frosting, about 1 hour.

Info | Chocolate Cayenne Cupcakes

prep: 20 mins cook: 30 mins additional: 1 hr 10 mins total: 2 hrs Servings: 18 Yield: 18 cupcakes

TAG : Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes

Fruits and Vegetables, Vegetables, Squash,