Nutella Bueno Cupcakes
Ingredients:
For the Cupcakes:
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs (room temperature)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup whole milk (room temperature)
½ cup vegetable oil
1 cup hot water (or hot coffee, if preferred for a richer flavor)
¼ cup Nutella (to add to the batter)
For the Nutella Frosting:
½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
¾ cup Nutella
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk (or more for desired consistency)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Decoration:
2-3 Kinder Bueno bars (chopped or broken into pieces)
Optional: Additional Nutella for drizzling
Directions:
For the Cupcakes:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
Combine dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder until well combined.
Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, milk, and vegetable oil until smooth.
Add Nutella: Add ¼ cup of Nutella to the wet ingredients and mix until fully incorporated. This will add an extra layer of Nutella flavor throughout the batter.
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Add hot water: Slowly add the hot water into the batter. The batter will be thin, but that’s what makes the cupcakes moist and light.
Fill cupcake liners: Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full.
Bake the cupcakes: Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the Nutella Frosting:
Cream butter and Nutella: In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter and Nutella using an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
Add powdered sugar: Gradually add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing on low speed until incorporated.
Add milk and vanilla: Once all the powdered sugar has been added, add the milk and vanilla extract, and continue to beat the frosting for another 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. If the frosting is too thick, add a little more milk until you reach your desired consistency.
Assembling the Cupcakes:
Frost the cupcakes: Once the cupcakes have cooled completely, spread or pipe the Nutella frosting onto each cupcake.
Decorate: Top each cupcake with pieces of Kinder Bueno bars for a crunchy, chocolatey surprise. You can also drizzle extra Nutella on top for an added touch.
Serve and enjoy! These Nutella Bueno Cupcakes are perfect for chocolate and Nutella lovers, with a creamy, fudgy texture and a delightful crunch from the Kinder Bueno pieces.