These Robins' Nest Cupcakes are made with moist, rich chocolate cupcakes, fluffy chocolate frosting, brown jimmies and chocolate robins' eggs. They are an easy, festive spring and Easter treat!
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line 2 muffin pans with paper wrappers.
In a medium bowl, sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
In a separate large bowl, whisk the oil, sugar, oil, eggs, coffee, milk and vanilla.
Slowly mix in the dry ingredients, and mix until just combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed.
Fill each cup of the muffin tin about 2/3 full.
Bake for 14 to 16 minutes. The center of the cupcakes should spring back when you touch them.
Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. Then remove them from the pan and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.
For the Frosting:
Sift the confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder.
Melt the chocolate in the microwave (it will only take about 1 minute, but melt in 20 second increments) and set aside to cool slightly.
In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter until fluffy and almost white in appearance.
Add the sugar/cocoa mixture. Mix until just combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
Add the milk and vanilla, mix until just combined.
Add the cooled, melted chocolate. Mix until completely combined.
To Assemble the Cupcakes:
Fill a piping bag fitted with a Wilton 1M tip with the chocolate frosting.
Pipe the frosting, building up the frosting on the sides to create a nest.
Sprinkle with jimmies right after frosting before the frosting sets.
Place chocolate eggs inside nest.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours, then refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Notes
Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.The calories shown are based on the recipe making 24 cupcakes, with 1 serving being 1 frosted cupcake. Use less frosting to lower the calories. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**