Ingredients
Cupcakes:
- 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
- 1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips, plus 1/4 cup for garnish
- 1 (21-ounce) box brownie mix (recommended: Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge)
- 2 eggs, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup water
Frosting:
- 4 ounces mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
Directions
Special equipment: 12 paper cupcake liners, a 12-cup muffin pan
For the cupcakes: Place an oven rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
In a small bowl combine the walnuts, 1 cup mini chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon of the brownie mix. Toss until all the ingredients are coated. Set aside.
In a large bowl mix together the remaining brownie mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and water. Stir for 20 seconds until blended. Fold in the walnuts and chocolate chips. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan (cupcake liners will be full). Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until a cake tester inserted into the cupcakes comes out with moist fudgy crumbs. Cool the cupcakes in the pan for 10 minutes. Transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack and cool completely before frosting, about 30 minutes.
For the frosting: In a large bowl, using an electric hand mixer, beat the cheeses together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar until smooth and spreadable. Refrigerate the frosting until ready to use.
Spread the frosting on top of the cupcakes and garnish with the remaining mini chocolate chips. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve at room temperature.
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By olgainc_1630047
Durham, NC
on September 19, 2011
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First I will say they were tasty, not fab. A dense cupcake w/ a yummy icing. Just not over the top. Course my husband (give him choc that's all it takes loved them. I did use reg chips cause all I had and it worked. I must say though I love that Giada brings us EASY yummy options. I love to cook and consider myself a great cook but I don't always have time to go all out...these kind of options I love. I trust Giada cause she is a great cook and that takes a load off me. She has given me other over the top EASY out of the pantry recipes that I make often.
By smcain24
on September 12, 2011
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I made this recipe today and fell in love! I plan on making these cupcakes for my son's first birthday. I used regular sized semi-sweet chocolate chips but I believe the mini chocolate chips would work better though. I did not use the walnuts in the recipe....the homemade icing recipe is amazing! I thought of maybe adding some strawberry flavoring to it next time to make it seem like a chocolate covered strawberry cupcake!
By susauna11
on August 14, 2011
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these cupcakes were amazing! I'm new to makin cupcakes from the food network i usually just use the recipe that comes on the chocolate cupcake box, but I'm SO happy i tried something different! These were great, but i personally love betty crockers milk chocolate whipped frosting on mine! These are so super chocolaty!!!!!!!!
Read all 44 reviews