Chocolate Red-wine Cupcakes With Mascarpone Icing

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 ounces chocolate, broken into pieces
• 1/2 cup water, boiling
• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup medium- to full-bodied red wine (such as cannonau)
• 2 (8 ounce) containers mascarpone cheese, room temperature
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• red grapes (halved)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°f line 2 muffin pans with muffin cups or coat with nonstick spray.
• 2 in a medium, heatproof bowl, combine cocoa powder with chocolate pieces. whisk in the boiling water until chocolate is melted and mixture is combined.
• 3 in a large bowl, cream butter and granulated sugar together. beat in the eggs one at a time, until fully blended. sift in flour, baking powder, and salt, and mix until just combined.
• 4 alternating, add the chocolate mixture and wine in batches, mixing well between each addition. repeat this until batter is smooth. divide mixture among muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 of the way full.
• 5 bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. let cool in the pan.
• 6 lightly beat the mascarpone, then add the confectioners' sugar and beat until creamy. remove the cooled cupcakes from the pan, spread each with icing, and top with a grape half, if desired.