Chocolate and Vanilla say "Thank You"!

My sweet Aunt Joann {my hubby's dad's cousin's wife...yeah, we'll just go with "Aunt" on that one!} is so appreciative of all the excellent care she has been getting from her therapists and caregivers that she wanted to tell them "thank you" the best way anyone can...with cupcakes!

These are vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream and candy pearls, and chocolate cupcakes double-dipped in chocolate ganache and topped with strawberries and chocolate ganache on the tippy top.

S'mores Cupcakes

S'mores Cupcakes (1 dozen)
~3/4 cup brown sugar
~1/2 cup canola oil
~2 tablespoons maple syrup
~1/4 cup plain yogurt
~1 1/4 cup milk
~1 tsp vanilla extract
~1 cup all-purpose flour
~1 tsp baking powder
~1/2 tsp baking soda
~1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
~1/4 tsp salt
~1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs plus more for topping

1) Mix brown sugar, canola oil, maply syrup, yogurt, milk, and vanilla extrac in a large bowl

2) Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt into a second bowl

3) Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients of first bowl in three batches, then stir in graham cracker crumbs

4) Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out dry

5) Top with Marshmallow Creme, chocolate ganache, chocolate chips, and more graham cracker crumbs



Chocolate Ganache
~3 tablespoons milk
~1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1) Add milk to a saucepan and heat on stove just until simmering
2) Stir in chocolate chips until completely melted
3) Let cool for 10 minutes
4) Spatula ganache into a Ziploc bag, snip small corner off the bag, then pipe ganache onto top of cupcakes