Chocolate Cupcakes So Good, the Frosting is Optional

Yep, you read that right. A cupcake so moist, so delicious, that you might not even want frosting. I stumbled onto this recipe several years ago when two of my kids and I were craving cupcakes. You know, the fancy kind they make on TV. An internet search led us to this recipe that had a chocolate ganache coating and a marshmallow frosting. Except we ended up loving the cake so much, that nowadays it's referred to as "those chocolate cupcakes that don't need frosting."

One of the other things I really like about this recipe is that while it is made from scratch, it's still has the nice, fluffy texture of a good box mix. There's nothing dense about this cake.

Here's what you'll need to make them:

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 cup half and half
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

By the way, this recipe came from www.thefoodnetwork.com/cupcakewars.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two regular size cupcake pans with liners.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the eggs, half-and-half, oil, and vanilla and beat on medium speed for two minutes. Stir in the boiling water until fully combined. (FYI, batter will be thin)

Fill the cupcake liners three-quarters full with batter and bake until the cupcakes spring back when touched with your finger, 10-15 minutes. Let cool in the pans for a few minutes, and then removed to a wire rack to cool completely.

These were from my oldest son's birthday this past weekend. They are his all-time favorite cupcakes.

So last week I told you about the baby birds that had hatched in the bucket outside of our dining room window.

This picture was taken the day after my post. Would you believe that when I went to check on them the next morning, they were gone? Hatched, grown, feathered and gone all in ten days or less. Nature is truly amazing.

And since we're in the dog days of summer, I just can't help but share a gratuitous grandbaby picture to brighten your day.

Don't you wish you could rock pink sunglasses like that?

Well, I'm gearing up for RWA next week, but first I have a proposal to finish up. Then I'm New York City bound and praying there won't be another blackout.

What exciting, or mundane, things are going on in your world?

Three time Carol Award finalist Mindy Obenhaus lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, the youngest of her five children and two dogs. She passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she's not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Learn more a mindyobenhaus.com.