Cupcakes for Charity - July

In an attempt to be more organised this month, I have successfully done my this charity sale earlier in the month! I chose the Hahndorf Animal Shelter as the charity to donate to this time, because they are a shelter that has a no 'put down' policy, they hold onto every cat and dog they receive until they are able to find them a loving and suitable home. I found out about them from their fund-raiser calendar sold at my vet, which was full of heart warming stories of animals who had finally found a home and family.

So to raise money for a heart-warming charity, I thought of selling heart warming "hot" chocolate cupcakes, with marshmallows in the shape of a paw on top. (I got the idea for the marshmallow paw from here)

I searched the internet for a hot chocolate recipe, but didn't really find one I wanted, so I used a chocolate cupcake recipe (one with sour cream - yum!), and added a whole lot of hot chocolate powder to the mix. The cupcakes were frosted with chocolate butter cream frosting, and topped with the marshmallow paw, then dusted with chocolate powder.

Again, I sold the cupcakes at work, to my very supportive colleagues, and was able to raise a whopping $108! I called up the shelter as they don't have an online donation option on the website. The lady said, I could just bring in the money to them, but what they would really love is if I could go spend all that money on Whiskers cat food tins, and bring them in instead! I am thinking that's a whole lotta cat food!!! But I don't mind doing that, Hahndorf is a lovely area, and I am sure with the help of my boyfriend to help me carry the tins we will make a fun day of it.

So without further babbling...here's the recipe:

"Hot" Chocolate Cupcakes - recipe adapted from Group Recipes

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup boiling water

• 1/4 cup butter

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1 1/2 cups Self Raising flour

• 1 egg, beaten

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Extra heaped tablespoon of hot chocolate powder (I used Cadbury Drinking Chocolate)
  

Method

• In a mixing bowl, combine boiling water, shortening, sugar, cocoa and hot chocolate powder. Beat until sugar is dissolved.

• Add sifted flour alternately with the beaten egg, sour cream, and vanilla.

• Fill cupcake cups about half full.

• Bake at 350°F or 180°C for 20 -25 minutes. Frost with your favourite frosting. Enjoy!