German Chocolate Cupcakes

source Cupcakes: Luscious bakeshop favorites from your home kitchen by Shelly Kaldunski

Makes 12 cupcakes

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 large egg, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped, melted and cooled to room temperature
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole milk

German Chocolate Frosting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and position rack in middle of oven.  Lightly spray a standard 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick spray.

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.  In another bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the sugar and butter together until light and fluffy – about 2-3 minutes.   Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined.  Add the melted chocolate and sour cream and beat on low speed until combined.   Add the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the milk in 2 additions, beating on low speed until just combined.   Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups.  Fill to about three-fourths full.   Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 18-20 minutes.   Let the cupcakes cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 5 minutes and then transfer each cupcake to a wire rack.   Completely cook, about 1 hour.

Top each cupcake with 2 tablespoons of German Chocolate Frosting.   You can also halve each cupcake horizontally and add 1 tablespoon of frosting for the middle.

Refrigerate when storing and bring to room temperature to serve.

Makes about 3 cups

1/4 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped
Pinch of salt

In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the evaporated milk, brown sugar, and butter and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.  Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the coconut, pecans and salt until combined.  Let cool to room temperature before using.