Irresistible Spiced Nutella Cupcakes with Whipped Chocolate Nutella Frosting: Your Ultimate Baking Delight
There’s something truly special about a homemade cupcake, isn’t there? A soft, perfectly baked cake base topped with a luscious swirl of frosting creates a miniature moment of pure joy. And when that cake is a warm, aromatic spice cake, and that frosting is an indulgent, creamy chocolate whipped Nutella dream? You’ve just discovered a new level of deliciousness. These Spiced Nutella Cupcakes may appear simple at first glance, but with the unique blend of flavors and textures, they are anything but basic. They promise a decadent experience that will delight your senses and leave you craving more.
It recently dawned on me, after years of baking and sharing recipes, that I had yet to post a single cupcake recipe on my blog. As a self-proclaimed baker and a mom of four, this felt like a glaring omission! Cupcakes are a staple in our household – they’re perfect for school treats, birthday parties, or simply a sweet pick-me-up after a long day. How could I have overlooked these versatile little cakes for so long? This oversight ends today, and it ends in spectacular fashion, with these incredible Nutella Spice Cupcakes. And trust me, this is just the beginning of a delightful cupcake journey here; many more delicious cupcake creations are on their way!
The Irresistible Foundation: Nutella-Infused Spice Cake
My Nutella spice cupcakes take the beloved classic spice cake and elevate it to new heights, adding a sophisticated twist that will intrigue and satisfy your palate. While traditional spice cakes are comforting and familiar, the addition of rich Nutella introduces a depth of hazelnut and chocolate that beautifully complements the warm spices. The star spices here are aromatic cardamom and classic nutmeg, which, when combined with the Nutella, create a flavor profile that is truly unique and more refined than your average spice cake. Each bite delivers a harmonious blend of sweet, nutty, and spicy notes, making these cupcakes an unforgettable treat.
Of course, a great cupcake starts with a perfectly baked cake. These cupcakes boast a wonderfully tender and moist crumb, a hallmark of any truly exceptional cake recipe. To achieve this, it’s crucial to use room temperature ingredients, especially butter and eggs, as this ensures a smoother, more emulsified batter that bakes evenly. Overmixing the batter is a common pitfall that can lead to dry, tough cupcakes, so I emphasize mixing just until the ingredients are combined. This gentle approach helps maintain the delicate structure of the cake, ensuring every cupcake is light, airy, and melts in your mouth. The combination of classic baking techniques with the unexpected twist of Nutella truly makes these spiced cupcakes stand out.
The Crowning Glory: Dreamy Chocolate Whipped Nutella Frosting
While the Nutella-infused spice cake is undoubtedly fantastic, the true showstopper in this recipe is the incredibly rich and creamy chocolate whipped Nutella frosting. If you’ve followed my recipes, you might have noticed my passion for glazes and frostings – remember the irresistible glaze on my caramel apple scones? I firmly believe that frosting should be a star in its own right, not just an afterthought. My personal criteria for any frosting is simple: if it’s not so delicious that I’m tempted to eat it plain by the spoonful, it has no business gracing my cakes or cupcakes! I freely admit to being a bit of a frosting snob, often scraping off overly sweet, artificial-tasting store-bought frostings just to enjoy the cake itself. I’ve seen my fair share of shocked faces when I unceremoniously dump discarded frosting into the trash, but life’s too short for bad frosting!
This particular frosting recipe is surprisingly simple to make, yet yields an incredibly luxurious result. You begin by gently melting together unsalted butter, milk chocolate chips, Nutella, and heavy cream. I prefer using a double boiler method, setting a heat-proof stainless steel mixing bowl over a pan of simmering water. This allows for controlled, even melting without any risk of scorching the chocolate. Alternatively, you can use a microwave, but proceed with caution: heat in short bursts (15-20 seconds), stirring frequently, to ensure everything melts slowly and smoothly, never allowing the mixture to come to a boil. The key here is patience; a low and slow melt ensures a perfectly smooth base for your frosting.
Once your chocolatey Nutella mixture is perfectly smooth, the longest – and perhaps hardest – step begins: chilling. This mixture needs to be completely chilled, ideally for several hours or even overnight, until it’s firm and very cold to the touch. This crucial chilling period allows the fats to solidify and prepares the mixture for whipping. Resist the temptation to rush this step; leaving that bowl of chocolatey Nutella goodness alone to get completely cold is vital. Once thoroughly chilled, you’ll whip it on high speed until it transforms into a light, airy, and incredibly fluffy frosting that truly melts in your mouth. The transformation is magical, turning a simple melted mixture into an ethereal cloud of flavor.
This frosting, while tasting absolutely heavenly, is designed for melt-in-your-mouth richness rather than structural stability. Therefore, a word of caution: it’s not ideal for intricate piping designs and certainly won’t hold up well in a hot car – it will melt and run! I recommend embracing the charm of old-school frosting application: simply spread it generously on your cooled cupcakes with a knife or an offset spatula. If you prefer to pipe, use a plain, round tip for a rustic swirl. My boys, with their unfiltered honesty, affectionately refer to this simpler piped look as a “poop emoji,” but I assure you, its taste is far from it! The ease of application combined with its incredible flavor makes it the perfect complement to these spiced cupcakes.
Baking Tips for Perfect Spiced Nutella Cupcakes
To ensure your Spiced Nutella Cupcakes turn out perfectly every time, here are a few essential baking tips. Always start by preheating your oven thoroughly; this ensures an even bake from the moment your cupcakes enter the oven. When measuring flour, use the spoon-and-level method: spoon the flour into your measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge, rather than scooping directly from the bag, which can compact the flour and lead to dry results. For the best rise and texture, make sure your baking powder is fresh.
When creaming the butter and sugar for the cupcake batter, whip them until they are truly light and fluffy. This incorporates air, which contributes to the cake’s tender crumb. Adding eggs one at a time, and scraping down the sides of the bowl, helps ensure everything is well combined without overmixing. For the wet and dry ingredients, alternate additions on low speed. This technique, along with mixing just until combined, prevents gluten from overdeveloping, which can make your cupcakes tough. Finally, don’t overfill your cupcake liners; filling them about two-thirds full is usually perfect for a beautiful dome without overflow. These simple steps will help you achieve wonderfully moist and flavorful Nutella spice cupcakes.
Spiced Nutella Cupcakes with Whipped Chocolate Nutella Frosting
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Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter (softened to room temp)
- 1/4 cup Nutella
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup milk
For the Frosting
- 1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup Nutella
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
Instructions
To Prepare the Cupcakes
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and line your cupcake pans with paper liners, preparing for 24 cupcakes.
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In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, ground cardamom, and ground nutmeg. Stir lightly until well combined, then set this dry mixture aside.
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In a separate large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the 3/4 cup of softened unsalted butter and sugar until the mixture is light, pale, and fluffy. Beat in the Nutella until fully incorporated. Add the large eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract, ensuring to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
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With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the reserved flour mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix just until the cupcake batter is combined and smooth, taking care not to overmix.
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Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cupcake liners, filling each cavity about 2/3 full. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean and the tops spring back lightly when gently touched.
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Allow the cupcakes to cool in their pans for 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. They must be entirely cool before frosting.
To Prepare the Frosting
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Set up a double boiler by filling a small saucepan with about an inch of water and bringing it to a low simmer. Place a heat-proof bowl securely on top of the saucepan, ensuring the bottom of the bowl does not touch the simmering water. Add the milk chocolate chips, unsalted butter, Nutella, and heavy cream to the bowl. Heat and stir continuously until the chocolate chips are completely melted and the mixture is smooth and glossy. Alternatively, you can melt the ingredients in the microwave in 15-20 second intervals, stirring well after each, until smooth.
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Remove the bowl from the heat (or microwave) and refrigerate the mixture until it is completely chilled and firm, which will take at least 2-3 hours, or preferably overnight. This chilling step is crucial for the frosting to whip properly.
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Once the frosting mixture has completely chilled and solidified, transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat the mixture until it becomes light, airy, and fluffy, typically 3-5 minutes. Immediately spread or pipe the delicious frosting on top of the cooled cupcakes and serve.
Nutrition
These Spiced Nutella Cupcakes are more than just a dessert; they’re an experience. The delicate balance of warm spices like cardamom and nutmeg with the rich, creamy hazelnut chocolate of Nutella creates a flavor profile that is both comforting and exciting. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion, a family gathering, or simply to treat yourself, this recipe promises to deliver. The tender, moist cake, combined with the dreamy, whipped frosting, makes for a perfect bite every single time. Don’t be surprised if these quickly become a highly requested favorite in your home!
I encourage you to give this recipe a try and discover the joy of homemade spiced Nutella cupcakes. Share them with loved ones, or keep them all to yourself – I won’t tell! The delightful aromas filling your kitchen as they bake, and the sheer pleasure of that first bite, are rewards in themselves. Happy baking, and enjoy every decadent moment!
