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.
18-24Strawberries - you'll need as many as you have cupcakes
Vodkarum, 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