Chocolate Malt Cupcakes

What could be better than a picture of a giant chocolate cupcake on a Monday morning?  I can think of no better way to start the week.  I'm not a morning coffee drinker but I have absolutely no problem getting a little caffeine boost from a chocolate cupcake in the morning. 

These malted milk chocolate cupcakes are really extraordinary.  They take chocolate cupcakes to a whole new level.  The malted milk powder is baked right into these decadent cupcakes which makes them super creamy and delicious.  As an added bonus - I can whip up a batch of these tasty treats by hand instead of having to do it in my Kitchen Aid mixer.  (Not that I don't love my Kitchen Aid - it just needs a break every now and then.)

Milk Chocolate Malted Cupcakes
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 cup malted milk powder
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
½ cup unsalted butter
¼ cup vegetable or canola oil
1¾ cups whole milk, at room temperature
3 eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Melt chocolate and butter in microwave.

Whisk oil into chocolate mixture.

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Stir chocolate mixture into dry ingredients along with 1 cup milk.

Combine 3/4 cup milk, eggs and vanilla. 

Whisk into batter. 

Scoop batter into jumbo cupcake pans. 

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Bake 26 minutes at 350.

Frost with chocolate buttercream and decorate with chopped malted milk balls. (Whoppers)

Carnation makes a malted milk powder that is available in most major grocery stores .  It is definitely a nice little addition to these cupcakes and if you have extra malted milk powder leftover, you can whip up a batch of pancake mix. 

Ciao!

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