Dark Chocolate Fudge Merlot Cupcakes.
I’m interrupting our regularly scheduled program for some sweet birthday wishes.
A few weeks ago, a super amazing guy (hi Drew!) contacted me asking if I could come up with something special and delicious for his girlfriend Christine’s birthday. Drew was so hopeful (and fabulously relentless) that I couldn’t say no… especially when he mentioned his passion for cooking.
Oh and that they are high school sweethearts and that he couldn’t imagine his life without her. !!!!!!!!!
I KNOW.
[I’m totally hoping that you guys didn’t OD on those cabernet chocolate truffles from last week, are still up for some boozy desserts and can enjoy these super fudgy dark chocolate cupcakes that are piled high with a light buttercream (if that’s even a thing) that has just a hint of red wine. As rich as they may sound… they aren’t. I suggest having some extra wine with your cupcakes. Heck, even dunk it in there.]
Don’t look at me that way. Love and birthdays call for sprinkles.
Happy 23rd birthday Christine! I hope you have a fabulous day filled with love and more frosting than you can handle.
Dark Chocolate Fudge Merlot Cupcakes
Ingredients
cupcakes
- 1 1/8 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3/4 cup milk, 2% or higher
- 2 tablespoons merlot
- 8 ounces of high-quality dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
frosting
- 1 1/2 sticks, 3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 6 tablespoons merlot
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- melted chocolate for drizzle
- chocolate sprinkles for topping
Instructions
cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, powder and salt. Set aside. Line a cupcake tin with liners.
- In a bowl, whisk egg, oil and sugar until together until smooth and no lumps remain. Add melted butter, merlot and vanilla and mix until combined. Add half of the dry ingredients, stirring to combine. Add the milk, then the remaining flour mixture. Mix until batter is smooth with a large spoon. Fold in chocolate. Line a muffin tin with liners and using a heaping 1/4 cup measure, add batter to each cup until 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 15-18 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.
frosting
- Beat butter in the bowl of your electric mixer until smooth and creamy, for a full 2 minutes. Add in powdered sugar gradually (about 1/2 cup at a time) with the mixer on low speed, slowly increasing the speed until it’s combined. Add in vanilla extract and merlot, then beat on medium-high speed for 5-6 minutes, occasionally scraping down the sides if needed, until thick and fluffy. Frost cupcakes and top with melted drizzled chocolate and sprinkles!
- Note: neither the cupcakes nor frosting have a super strong merlot flavor – just a hint – so I do recommend serving them with small glasses of wine to intensify the flavor.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Be sure to follow @howsweeteats on instagram and tag #howsweeteats. You can also post a photo of your recipe to our facebook page.
I appreciate you so much!
P.S. I think Drew’s a keeper.
126 Comments on “Dark Chocolate Fudge Merlot Cupcakes.”
Love DEFINITELY calls for sprinkles! And wine. In cupcakes. Obvs.
This is beyond sweet…the post and the cupcakes!!!
i agree. KEEP HIM.
That’s so cute that he contacted you to make this! And what marvelous recipe you created! Looks amazing!
Aww how sweet! (No pun intended!) I’d say he’s a keeper too!
all cupcakes should be paired with wine. screw the glass of milk.
Wine and chocolate. What could be better?!
eatwelltraveloftenblog.blogspot.com
Awww, you’re a sucker for romance! These cupcakes are GORGEOUS!
Awww so sweet! And I want to frame that sprinkle heart picture. Beautiful!
How romantic! Cupcakes and wine! I love it! I bet Christine was happy!!! I know I would of have been getting some of these cupcakes! Gorgeous!!
Cocoa powder and dark chocolate – a double chocolate whammo! I’m pretty crazy about anything with dark chocolate in it. I’m not sure I’d add the merlot in just because I’m not really a wine person (I know, the horror!) but I think these fluffy masterpieces would be wonderful to take as a birthday treat to work some week.
sprinkles make everything better!
I love that you conjured up this recipe for a reader – I’m a hopeless romantic, so I can appreciate that act of kindness.
I’m sure Christine had the happiest birthday thanks to you and Drew!
SO cute that you made this recipe for your reader Jessica. :) That heart sprinkles picture…. I want to frame it. Everything calls for sprinkles. Birthdays = sprinkles. Birthdays = wine and chocolate. Actually…. everyday = wine, chocolate, & sprinkles.
Ahhhhh! I am floored. What a totally acceptable interruption this was to my sleeping in. Birthday girl, here. Made with my favorite food/drink, these cupcakes look amazing! Thank you so much, Jessica! Drew has a really tough time surprising me, but not today. He is most definitely a keeper :-) Thank you both for getting my 23rd birthday off to a sweet start!
you are so welcome, happy birthday!!
I will never forget this very sweet gesture. Drew and I are going to make these for my great grandmother’s 93rd bday tea party next week!
Oh and we’re engaged :-)
adore this post, so so cute!!!!!! and these cupcakes – i mean wine AND chocolate AND buttercream. drew is going to make his gf one happy lady w these! ps bacon brussels egg salad — right?? (if you like egg salad that is) –> http://www.timvidraeats.com/2013/02/egg-salad-with-bacon-and-brussels.html
You had me at merlot. (And hi, does that guy have a brother?)
That sprinkles heart photo… LURVE.
Usually it’s chocolate and wine; but you (crazy girl…I mean that in the nicest way), put the wine in the chocolate!!!
You (and drew) are the best.
These cupcakes are insane! Cant wait to try them
Say it with me now, “Awwwwwwww.”
Christine is one lucky gal, and Drew is definitely a keeper. I wish someone would make these for me!
well my name is Christine so I automatically LOVED this.. and yes sometimes I can be that superficial lol
as for the food, these look divine! because I’m a Nutella freak, I’d love to use Hazelnut Dark Chocolate in the cupcakes – Ghiradelli has a version that is simply heavenly!
great share! xx
I may have someone that likes sprinkles as much as you do. This video made me fall out of my chair laughing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EVzoolYugA&feature=em-share_video_user
haha, how cute is that! What a persistent dude. Now I’m going to bug you until you do something for my birthday on the 17th. :)
Ummmm, that is TOO CUTE!!!! And what a fantastic birthday cupcake!
Wine and chocolate together! OMG
Aww….that Drew definitely sounds like a keeper! So do these cupcakes! Wow!
Wow…this recipe would make any birthday perfect! These cupcakes are really calling my name right now….drool. :)
Awe!! I think Drew get’s boyfriend of the year award! How sweet (seriously!!)!!
awww this is so cute! and love the idea of dark chocolate merlot cupcakes.
What a great guy :) Loving the combination of merlot and dark chocolate. Fabulous!
Holy adorable. What a cutie this Drew is! I can’t even…
Awwww! Now I have to send my boyfriend this link and say “HINT. HINT.” Gotta keep him on his toes.
Everything you post I want to try! These are definitely on the list. I tried making the Cabernet Chocolate Truffles you posted the other day, and they turned out amazing! I’m clearly on a wine in desserts kick right now, hehe! :)
Wasn’t expecting to see a food post from you today – what a nice surprise AND that it’s b/c you’re helping a guy out with a recipe for his GF’s bday. Now that’s sweet, on both of your parts!
Such a cute post! And those cupcakes… along with more wine…. well, that’s pretty much perfect.
I’m totally pinning your sprinkles pic :)
I think I’ll make these for breakfast.
Great minds and all…I just did some pinot noir brownies; I’m not sure I’ll ever want a brownie again without wine in it and on the side. These look divine; wanna trade?
I want these for my birthday! I love the sprinkle pic :)
I think Drew is a keeper, too! You are too, Jessica- how very sweet of you to create a cupcake for him! It looks like he is going to be a hero with this cupcake!
ooh! i love this shoot. the wine and the chocolate are tugging at my heartstrings right now!
kw, ladies in navy
sweet post! cupcakes and wine. yes!
cupcakes & wine… perfect!
Can’t wait to try this recipe :)
Loving the sprinkle photo!
I LOVE these!!
What a great post – so sweet and so cute!
I teach a cupcake class and it’s coming up so I need to get back into the swing of things! These would be perfect and yummy practice!!! =)