There is nothing better than a good chocolate cupcake (well, maybe a full-sized chocolate cake) and in addition to being easy to make at home, they are also very versatile. Here’s my ultimate chocolate cupcake recipe plus seven ways to glam it up. You are definitely not limited to a chocolate cupcake and chocolate frosting. It’s the perfect palette for creativity in the kitchen.

Enjoy!

My go-to chocolate cupcake recipe is a one-bowl, decadent and rich cupcake. Soft and airy and is easily adaptable with different flavors. The chocolate frosting is equally delicious, silky smooth and fluffy. I love using cocoa powder in my chocolate frosting instead of melted chocolate. It is fluffier if you ask me and also less work. This frosting will be your go-to as well.

What’s better than chocolate? Wine and chocolate of course! These Chocolate Red Wine Cupcakes with Marionberry Frosting are amazing. The cupcake is decadent and filled with a gorgeous marionberry compote. Topped with a fluffy frosting, these will make anyone swoon!

I know I have readers who love chocolate and peanut butter together. It’s a classic combination and these Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes do not disappoint with hints of coffee and peanut butter candy.

My Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes will be a hit at any celebration, and they are a fantastic way to use up leftover pumpkin pie filling.

This cupcake looks impressive, but you will know just how easy they were to make. Blood Orange Chocolate Cupcakes are a fresh addition to this round up and they are perfect in Winter when blood oranges are in season. If you love hints of dark chocolate, coffee and citrus, you’ll definitely want to give these a try.

Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcakes are another classic combination. Mint and chocolate are just “mint” to go together and these cupcakes are delectible! These are rich and filled with mint chocolate chips for an added surprise.

Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes with Whiskey Caramel Bailey’s Buttercream are divine even if you aren’t a fan of beer. The Guinness gives the cupcake a rich, deep flavor and you barely taste the beer itself. These are topped with a rich Bailey’s buttercream and filled with a whiskey caramel sauce. The ultimate boozy cupcake.

These Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Cupcakes are a fan favorite. Once again, a basic chocolate cake recipe is the perfect platform for an amazing salted caramel buttercream frosting. These were and continue to be very popular here on Blahnik Baker.

I think this is one of my favorite posts in this series so far. There’s a little something for just about everyone and you are sure to please a crowd with a batch of any of the options above.

The post Throwback Bites: The Ultimate Chocolate Cupcake Recipe + 7 Ways to Glam it Up appeared first on A Classic Twist.

What would Thanksgiving be if it weren’t for the pie? Maybe I’m biased, but I love baking so much, that I’d really rather skip to dessert. Who’s with me on that? 😉 This year, I pulled together a variety of my favorite Thanksgiving pie recipes that I think meets the needs of all of your guests.

Enjoy!

There is just nothing like Classic Pumpkin Pie when it comes to Thanksgiving desserts. This is definitely a tried and true starting point for anyone wanting to make pie for the holidays.

If you want the classic pumpkin pie taste in a smaller serving, you cannot go wrong with these Mini Pumpkin Pies. These are especially great if you’re having a buffet instead of a traditional sit down meal.

If you’re semi-traditional, but not afraid to try something new, you might want to try this Caramel Apple Pie with Cheddar. It’s the perfect mix of sweet and salty!

Maybe you aren’t an apple pie person. Don’t worry. This Mixed Berry Pie hits all the right notes and you can customize it with any mix of berries you prefer.

Looking for a no bake solution? You are in luck. This No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Pie has everything your guests are sure to love and doesn’t take up precious oven space while you’re cooking the big meal. Who doesn’t love all things chocolate and peanut butter?

If you’re feeling more adventurous, you will definitely want to try your hand at my Cranberry Ginger Pear Pie. The tart cranberries are perfect for Thanksgiving and the tender pears and warm ginger will send your guests away feeling cozy.

If you have pecan pie lovers at your house (or any that will be visiting), this will definitely fit the bill and give them something new to try as well. Sweet Potato Pecan Pie is two traditional pies in one with creamy sweet potato pie filling and a crunchy pecan pie layer on top.

Lastly, I just had to include my Pumpkin Coconut Pie – it’s pumpkin pie with a twist – NO DAIRY! The coconut is subtle, so don’t worry, the pumpkin is still the star of the show!

To me there is nothing better than baking at the holidays. Will you be attempting a pie or two this year?

The post Throwback Bites – Thanksgiving Pie Recipes appeared first on A Classic Twist.

In 2014, I made a Spiced Apple Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting and it was a hit! Since then, I’ve used that same salted caramel sauce recipe in many other creations. It always adds a smokey, comforting flavor to any dessert. It is the perfect caramel sauce for fall.

This is where it all began. My Spiced Apple Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting and a smokey salted caramel sauce topping. It’s like having a caramel apple in a slice of soft, creamy cake. It’s simply divine!

These Salted Caramel Apple Cupcakes followed. They take the spiced apple cake to a new level, with perfectly spiced apple cake, and topped with Swiss meringue buttercream frosting and of course, our favorite salted caramel sauce.

But before I get too far ahead of myself (so easy with all of these amazing treats!) – I also made these Salted Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls. Simply the perfect pre-holiday breakfast.

If you’re looking for a healthy option with caramel sauce, I’m sorry to tell you that this Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake with Salted Caramel Sauce won’t fit that bill, but it is a decadent dessert that will wow your guests this holiday season.

Lastly (but surely not the least), I throw this one in for the Twix fans out there. These Salted Caramel Twix Cookie Bars are the perfect way to wind down at the end of a long week. You deserve a little bit of chocolate and ooey, gooey caramel.

Be sure to check out the rest of my caramel inspired recipes.

The post Throwback Bites – Salted Caramel Sauce Recipes appeared first on A Classic Twist.