Chocolate Cupcakes with Flaming Strawberries

Chocolate Cupcakes with Flaming Strawberries

Call me easily amused, but these little torch-topped cupcakes delight me.  Besides being a cute novelty item for a party, I think they would add a little drama to the end of a romantic meal.  I’ve been looking for something different to serve for Valentine’s dessert, and this is definitely different.  The strawberries are hollowed out and filled with a bit of liquor, then ignited with a match.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Flaming Strawberries

For the cake portion, I chose a One Bowl Chocolate Cupcake recipe because 1. it’s quick 2. it is easy, and 3. it fits my prerequisite for a light ending on date night.

I should say, a light ending provided you don’t eat too many.  Which is really, really easy to do.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Flaming Strawberries

The cakes are just sweet enough, and have a light, fluffy crumb – the perfect vehicle for rich chocolate buttercream.

Add just a spoonful of 80 proof or above.

Notes for flaming strawberries:

  • Any alcohol below 80 proof will not ignite well.  I used 80 proof which makes a small blue flame.  Note: some have had trouble getting 80 proof to ignite – lots of people are recommending Bacardi 151 as a fail-safe. 
  • You can add a little sugar to the inside of the strawberry to sweeten things up.  However, the flame seems to last longer without the addition of sugar.
  • Make sure to use a liquor that you like.  Vodka is a good choice if you want very little flavor.
  • Alcohol evaporates, so light the strawberry soon after you spoon the liquor in.  
  • Room temperature alcohol ignites better than refrigerated.
  • Do I have to say it?  Probably not, but my conscience will not let me go without.  Do not attempt to eat a flaming strawberry.  It has a relatively short burn time, lasting about 30 seconds to 1 minute. So, enjoy but be careful.  Use your noodle.
Chocolate Cupcakes with Flaming Strawberries

Shaina made a margarita version of this on Babble Food. You can find the link HERE, along with some additional tips on getting the alcohol to ignite.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Flaming Strawberries
Chocolate Cupcakes with Flaming Strawberries

Chocolate Cupcakes with Flaming Strawberries

Heather Baird
These are great fun for a party – but be careful! Any alcohol below 80 proof will not ignite well.  Use Bacardi 151 as a fail-safe, or warm your 80 proof alcohol in a saucepan before igniting.. You can add a little sugar to the inside of the strawberry to sweeten things up.  However, the flame seems to last longer without the addition of sugar. Make sure to use a liquor that you like.  Vodka is a good choice if you want very little flavor. Alcohol evaporates, so light the strawberry soon after you spoon the liquor in. 
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 20

Ingredients
 
 

Cupcakes:

  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 tsp baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 cup hot water
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 3 tbsp canola or other vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Frosting:

  • 2 sticks softened butter
  • 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder sifted

Strawberries:

  • 18-24 Strawberries – you’ll need as many as you have cupcakes
  • Vodka rum, or your choice of liquor 80 proof or higher (use Bacardi 151 for fail-proof results).

Instructions
 

Cupcakes

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Line muffin tin with cupcake papers and set aside.
  • Sift together cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. Add eggs, water, heavy cream, oil and vanilla. Mix with a hand held mixer until smooth.
  • Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each half full. Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool before frosting.

Frosting

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, cream together sugar, cocoa and butter; beginning on low speed then increase to high. Beat until fluffy and lightened in color. Transfer mixture to a piping bag fitted with a decorative tip. Frost cupcakes.

Strawberries

  • Hollow the strawberries carefully. If you pierce the side of the strawberry accidentally, start with a new one. Since you’ll be setting the liquor aflame, it is important that the strawberry is leak-proof.
  • Set one strawberry atop each frosted cupcake. Fill strawberries with liquor just before lighting (see tips). If you need to light them all at once, (say, for a party) use a turkey baster to quickly fill all the strawberries and a grill lighter in lieu of matches.
Keyword black truffle chocolate frosting, flaming strawberry garnish, one bowl chocolate cake
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Follow:
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
276 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Unknown
Unknown
13 years ago

Genius! I'm making these next week for sure. X

Blog is the New Black
Blog is the New Black
13 years ago

These look AMAZING. And flammable? I'd prob hurt someone. But I'd risk it!

Jessica @ How Sweet
Jessica @ How Sweet
13 years ago

These are just too cool! And super fun too.

Unknown
Unknown
13 years ago

Amazing! Where did you get your cupcake liners?

Tiffany @ Conor and Bella
Tiffany @ Conor and Bella
13 years ago

These are absolutely stunning!

Anonymous
Anonymous
13 years ago

This is such a fabulous idea!!! Xoxoxo 1942charm.blogspot.com

Brooke
Brooke
13 years ago

These are unbelievably cute! How did you get such nice photos in what must have been fairly dark conditions?

Unknown
Unknown
13 years ago

Very impressive..lurve it!!

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
13 years ago

Thank you!

Jane, I used disposable mini brioche pans from the King Arthur Flour store. They are cute but were a bit of a pain when it came to removing the cupcakes.

Brooke, Thank you! I must admit that I am a little dissatisfied with the graininess that some of the photos have. I used a 50mm 1.8 lens which is great to have in low light situations. It's pretty cheap too as far as camera lenses go.

Michael
Michael
13 years ago

What a cute idea! I think my beloved would enjoy flaming strawberries!

Renee
Renee
13 years ago

OMG, those look so awesome!! Even without the flame!! I'm totally going to try these!! Thanks for sharing!

linda
linda
13 years ago

you always amaze me!
totally creative & impressive…& great for a small dinner party!!

Heather (Heather's Dish)
Heather (Heather's Dish)
13 years ago

flaming strawberries are GENIUS! these are so beautiful…and i love that they're very valentine's day-esque, but with a twist 🙂

Paula
Paula
13 years ago

So romantic. Great dessert for Valentine's Day.

Jennifer
Jennifer
13 years ago

What a great idea. Love the flaming strawberries. I needed something for dinner this weekend and i think I've just found it.

www.sweetcreationsbystephanie.com
www.sweetcreationsbystephanie.com
13 years ago

I'm in love.. I think I just found the perfect cupcake for my husbands upcoming birthday!

Unknown
Unknown
13 years ago

Yet something else I will copy you on, what a perfect idea for valentines…I will be stealing this!

Zo @ Two Spoons
Zo @ Two Spoons
13 years ago

Freakin. Fantastic. LOVE flames + food…every time I order crepes suzette I get way too excited. These look stunning too.

Estela @ Weekly Bite
Estela @ Weekly Bite
13 years ago

These are the coolest cupcakes I've ever seen!!

Truly amazing!

Marie @ Myculinarycalling
Marie @ Myculinarycalling
13 years ago

Cool!

Christina of Form V Artisan
Christina of Form V Artisan
13 years ago

CLEVER. I like fire…and cake.

Amy @ What Jew Wanna Eat
Amy @ What Jew Wanna Eat
13 years ago

This is genius! I can indulge my love of chocolate and pyromania all at once!

April Carter
April Carter
13 years ago

Really love these cases!

Anonymous
Anonymous
13 years ago

Whoa! These are amazing, I definitely am going to try this sometime.

Urvashee
Urvashee
13 years ago

These look so cool! Great presentation for a dinner party. Thanks for the details about alcohol proofs! Very helpful!

Lilianna Grace
Lilianna Grace
13 years ago

Beautiful photos! Magazine quality photos and I'm sure award winning taste.

lil @ sweetsbysillianah
lil @ sweetsbysillianah
13 years ago

um wow… i'm speechless! my husband would get a kick out of these…

Anonymous
Anonymous
13 years ago

Hi, I'm Angela from Australia and I just had to tell you that I absolutely love your blog. Beautiful recipes, photos…everything is amazing…and this post is simply THE BEST I have seen on any blog.
Thanks for sharing your talent with the world.

Regards from the Land-Downunder

Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean
13 years ago

those are incredible! so fancy looking!

Tiffany S.
Tiffany S.
13 years ago

Such a great idea and so beautiful!! Thanks for sharing 🙂

Steph
Steph
13 years ago

What a clever idea! Plus, they look fabulous!!

Anonymous
Anonymous
13 years ago

O.M.G. I'm so so looking for beautiful strawberries now! Heather, you've outdone yourself–again!

xxx
xxx
13 years ago

HOLY CRAP exciting!

Lili
Lili
13 years ago

Oh Heather, I love that you did all the research on this for getting it to work perfectly. Love that blue flame. I'm going to try it with my home made raspberry liqueur! Your images are fabulous, I'm thinking you had to work very quickly to capture them!! ~Lili

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets
Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets
13 years ago

What a creative, show-stopping dessert. Thanks for sharing it!

anna
anna
13 years ago

Haha yes! This is ridiculously brilliant! More desserts should probably be on fire, when you think about it.

Sarah
Sarah
13 years ago

Do the strawberries burn after the alcohol has burned off or change consistency? What camera do you use to shoot your photos, they are amazing!

Rosa's Yummy Yums
Rosa's Yummy Yums
13 years ago

Oooohhhh, those are so pretty! A terrific idea as long as you don't set the table on fire… ;-P

Cheers,

Rosa

Michelle
Michelle
13 years ago

oh this is simply a super idea. genius! 🙂

Medifast Coupon
Medifast Coupon
13 years ago

Elegant, simply elegant. This certainly is the way to impress someone on Valentine's Day . The brlliance of this is surely to good to go unnoticed.

Smita  Srivastava
Smita Srivastava
13 years ago

Wow what a wonderful idea !!! Love it !!

Chele
Chele
13 years ago

So classy! I love it ;0)

di_ani
di_ani
13 years ago

Creative, original and beautiful –
wonderful pictures!
My admiration, Diana

the decorated cookie
the decorated cookie
13 years ago

Wooooow! These are so amazing amazing amazing. (I posted a link on ediblecrafts.craftgossip.com). Amazing!!

Susan
Susan
13 years ago

Different and such a grand finale!

LynnieBee
LynnieBee
13 years ago

LOVE THESE!!!

Unknown
Unknown
13 years ago

Oh I just LOVE this!!! Subscribing to feed asap. Greetings from snowy Norway!

cookies and cups
cookies and cups
13 years ago

Such a fun idea!! I love it and can only imagine the amazement of my children if i were to prepare something this fancy…with fire 😉

Shaina
Shaina
13 years ago

Heather, every time I come here I fall in love with your creativity all over again. Absolutely adore these.

Lindsey @ Hot Polka Dot
Lindsey @ Hot Polka Dot
13 years ago

These are the single most impressive cupcakes I have ever seen! Just beautiful!