Cupcakes for Charity - February

For February's cupcakes for charity sale, I wanted to donate to an animal cause in much need of help. Recently while on a tour at our local zoo - during a very awesome wedding reception- I was reminded of the plight of our native Tasmanian devils, who's wild population in Tasmania is threatened by a dreadful facial tumour disease.

I urge you to go to this official website to read more on the situation.

On Friday last week I sold cupcakes at work, a lot of my co-workers have been genuinely interested and very supportive of my charity efforts, which is wonderful. I made Devil's Food Cupcakes, with a chocolate mousse like frosting, topped a royal icing heart. These cupcakes got rave reviews at work, I recommend the recipe that follows!

I was able to raise - $120 for The Save The Tasmanian Devil Appeal

Devil's Food Cupcakes - Recipe from foodnetwork.com

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup boiling water
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 6 ounces/170gms butter
  
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups cake flour (I used Self Raising Flour and omitted the next 2 ingredients)
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup buttermilk (I used a milk and white vinegar substitute)
  

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, or 160 degrees C.

Whisk together boiling water and cocoa. Cover and set aside. With a mixer, cream together the butter, sugar, salt and vanilla extract. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue creaming until light and fluffy. Sift together the flour, baking soda and baking powder and add this mixture, alternately with the buttermilk. Add cocoa and water mixture and mix until thoroughly combined. Scoop into cupcake pans and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.