Chianti Chocolate Cupcakes

I’ve always had the opinion that red wine and chocolate were made for each other, so when I happened upon a recipe for chocolate red-wine cupcakes, all my other baking plans flew out the window. Now, I’m no wine connoisseur, but I do have a favorite red.  I keep a bottle of Chianti squirreled away in my wine cabinet for special occasions.  I couldn’t wait to see how it tasted in cake form.

The red wine flavor in the chocolate cake is subtle, so I felt punching up the Chianti taste with frosting was an absolute necessity.  I made a simple confectioners’ icing with a wine reduction and finished it with a few tablespoons of Chianti strait from the bottle.  I’ve made these twice; once as full size cupcakes and once (shown here) as minis.  I loved the minis, and could imagine them lined up on a fancy platter for the perfect sweet bite at a cocktail party.

I used tiny Bunchins table grapes as a cupcake garnish (remember them from this post?).  I like the added freshness in both flavor and appearance.  If you can’t find this tiny variety of grape, an average-size grape can be halved and perched on top.

Chianti Chocolate Cupcakes

Cake portion adapted from Silvana Nardon’s recipe                                               [click for printable version]

Makes about a dozen cupcakes or 2.5-3 dozen mini cupcakes

Cake:

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 oz. dark chocolate (72%) broken into small pieces

1/4 cup boiling water

1 stick butter, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1/2 cup plus 1/8 cup all purpose flour

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup Chianti red wine

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place liners in cupcake pan cavities.

2. In a medium heatproof bowl, combine cocoa powder and chocolate pieces, whisk in the boiling water until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is thoroughly combined.

3. In a large bowl, cream the butter and granulated sugar.  Beat in the eggs until well blended.  Sift in flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Mix until just combined.  Alternating, add the chocolate mixture and wine, mix until batter is smooth.

4. Divide batter among cupcake liners, filling them about halfway full.  Bake for about 20 minutes for regular size cupcakes – 10-12 for minis.  Allow to cool completely before frosting.

*Note:  These cupcakes have a flat top when baked, so don’t expect a nice rounded top.  That said, they are very moist and tender.  Don’t let the flat tops fool you!

Frosting:

1 cup Chianti wine plus 4 tablespoons, divided

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 stick of butter, softened (not room temperature, butter should still be a little cold)

3 cups confectioners’ sugar

1/4 tsp salt

Small seedless red grapes for garnish

1. Place 1 cup Chianti and granulated sugar in a small saucepan over medium high heat.  Stir until sugar is dissolved, and simmer until mixture is reduced to scant 1/3 cup.  Allow to cool completely

2. In the bowl of a standing mixer with the whisk attachment, combine the softened butter and confectioners’ sugar.  Mix on low speed at first, and then on high until mixture is fluffy.  With mixer running, gradually pour in the cooled Chianti reduction.  Add salt and beat until well combined.  Scrape down the bowl as necessary.

3. Again, with the mixer running, gradually pour in the 4 tablespoons of Chianti one  tablespoon at a time until thoroughly mixed.  Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large french decorator tip.  Frost cupcakes and garnish with grapes.

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Paula
Paula
12 years ago

These look lovely and what a great idea to use a red wine reduction in the frosting to boost the cupcake flavour. Very pretty.

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

Yes! Red wine and chocolate. Yes…chianti chocolate cupcakes. You have me sold.

Emily
Emily
12 years ago

these cupcakes are gorgeous! i love them and i love your blog! :*

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

Fab! I do a similar version with Port Wine, and I recently purchased Pinot Noir salt, and wanted to do a chocolate Pinot Noir cake with some type of salted buttercream utlizing the salt. This gives me all sorts of ideas now…

Yosa
Yosa
12 years ago

Hmm, sounds WONDERFUL!

I am curious if other alcohol would work in a similar way- rum chocolate cupcakes for example…

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
12 years ago

Oooh, port wine sounds amazing!

Hi Yosa! I'm not sure. I tried peach schnapps in a vanilla cupcake once, but most of the flavor baked out of it because of the high alcohol content.

Leah
Leah
12 years ago

This is such a cute idea and what beautiful pictures! This would be so cool for a wine tasting party.

A Spoonful of Yumm
A Spoonful of Yumm
12 years ago

great idea , the cupcakes look so cute

jenna
jenna
12 years ago

like always stunning! these sound so original and yummy. that frosting looks to die for! lovely!

Rosa's Yummy Yums
Rosa's Yummy Yums
12 years ago

Lovely cupcakes! Very original and so pretty.

Cheers,

Rosa

nicole {sweet peony}
nicole {sweet peony}
12 years ago

so so so beautiful! i'm in love! can't wait to try these 🙂

Alicia
Alicia
12 years ago

I never have red wine! I'm partial to Pinot Grigio so that is usually what I have available. I'll have to find a friend with red wine and try making these. The sound of the red wine reduction…YUM. I can see just using the reduction over vanilla ice cream! Great Idea!

Zippy
Zippy
12 years ago

Mmm, these look amazing and beautiful. I can't wait to try them!

Flavia Galasso
Flavia Galasso
12 years ago

simply gorgeous…. have a wonderful weekend, hugs Flavia

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

Wow Heather- those are beautiful! And the asset must be divine. I'm bookmarking this recipe for the next time I need a sophisticated dessert to impress with!

Miss Crayola Creepy
Miss Crayola Creepy
12 years ago

I don't think a cupcake recipe could get any better.

Ellen @ BakeItWithBooze
Ellen @ BakeItWithBooze
12 years ago

I made these for our blog and I highly recommend using port as well.

http://bakeitwithbooze.blogspot.com/2011/09/chocolate-and-port-cupcakes.html

Enjoy!

Erin
Erin
12 years ago

I absolutely love Chianti! These cupcakes sound so deliciously over the top. Perfect for a fancy dinner party, or a Tuesday afternoon!

linda
linda
12 years ago

i am so excited to recreate these chianti cupcakes!
we love red wines…
your art nouveau silver platter is stunning …as are your cupcakes!,

Kim
Kim
12 years ago

You are so right, wine and chocolate really do have some taste in common. I really love these little cupcakes, they look really yummy!

Jaq (i sugar coat it)
Jaq (i sugar coat it)
12 years ago

Delectable! Red wine and chocolate are certainly a heavenly match. I'll have to try the frosting recipe some time. As always, your photos are stunning!

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

Beautiful cupcakes, photo and recipe! I am so anxious to try these! You are so talented and creative!

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

These are perfectly pink and I can only imagine the flavor! Sounds delicious 🙂

Agnese
Agnese
12 years ago

oh my good they look so faboulus!!! I'm italian and I have to bake them!! 😉

megan @ whatmegansmaking
megan @ whatmegansmaking
12 years ago

I love how the icing looks on these – so pretty! These sound so good 🙂

Lora
Lora
12 years ago

I think the minis would be the absolutely perfect dessert nibble on a tray. Fabulous. Love the weeny grapes.

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

These cupcakes are so pretty. Love your photos!

Jennifer (Delicieux)
Jennifer (Delicieux)
12 years ago

Oh my these look amazing!!!! I especially love the frosting!!!! I agree, chocolate and red wine go really well together.

Sue/the view from great island
Sue/the view from great island
12 years ago

I just discovered your blog and I love it. These cupcakes are so unusual and elegant, the color is just phenomenal. Your photographs are wonderful, magazine quality!

SingerFood e Chiccherie
SingerFood e Chiccherie
12 years ago

Beautiful cupcakes!!!

CIAO!!!

Francesca (www.singerfood.com)

Russell at Chasing Delicious
Russell at Chasing Delicious
12 years ago

Wow. Gorgeous cupcakes and lovely shot! This recipe sounds fantastic!

Emily
Emily
12 years ago

OK, I LOVE this idea! Making these at the weekend I think. Thanks – fab idea!

Kathy Howe
Kathy Howe
12 years ago

My two great loves…chocolate and wine! I have to try these cupcakes.

Lili
Lili
12 years ago

Such a festive and elegant creation. Oh I bet they are bursting with flavor. Love those tiny bunchins! xo ~Lili

Sue
Sue
12 years ago

You are quite the creative baker, Heather! Love the grapes as the decoration:)

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

Wow this sounds amazing. We have a cupcake shop in Santa Barbara wine country called Enjoy that makes the most delicious wine cupcakes. You must go there if you're ever in the area.

Karyn
Karyn
12 years ago

Looks divine! Sounds Wonderful! Beautiful presentation as always!

Rachel @ The Avid Appetite
Rachel @ The Avid Appetite
12 years ago

these are absolutely and fantastically beautiful! I adore this idea for a wine cocktail party. So gorgeous. I also love those little grapes…they make the whole presentation!

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

complimenti, il tuo blog è meraviglioso! lo aggiungo subito al mio elenco visibile! se ti va vieni a trovarmi! un bacio!

Nic@diningwithastud
Nic@diningwithastud
12 years ago

What a fab idea! And combining wine and dessert is a totaly time saver 😉

Angie
Angie
12 years ago

These look so yummy! I just started following you found you through confessions of a cookbook queen, who I love! Can't wait to check out your older posts!

Priyanka
Priyanka
12 years ago

They look so tempting.
Lovely photographs 🙂

Kayleigh
Kayleigh
12 years ago

I just recently found your blog (via Pinterest)… you are AMAZING!!! 🙂

365daysofbaking
365daysofbaking
12 years ago

Heather, love the grapes! What a beautiful touch!
I'm wondering how many of these cupcakes it would take to make me tipsy if it only takes me one glass of wine. 😉
I'll have to eat dinner first.

Shelli
Shelli
12 years ago

These look great! Can't wait to try this recipe!

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

utterly amazing.

Taylor
Taylor
12 years ago

I love this post. I'm currently in a long distance relationship, but I'll be seeing my boyfriend in a few weeks. I love making big dinners for him, and this will certainly be dessert. I don't like icing much, so I think I'll top it with you Red wine ganache you posted a while back.

blonde
blonde
12 years ago

Your blog is fantastic! One of the best places to eat in New York has a similar cupcake and it is outrageous! Now, I can try and make it for myself. THANK YOU!

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

oh my, these do look amazing, I'd love to try these flavors, so inviting.

hạt mêthi
hạt mêthi
12 years ago

What a fab idea! And combining wine and dessert is a totaly time saver ;))