Chocolate Frosted Cupcakes

Blue Ribbon Baker, Marjorie Johnson, has added to her collection when she walked away from the Anoka County Fair with 21 blue ribbons!  In spite of how busy she is, she still has time to celebrate her birthday with us with her recipe for her Chocolate Frosted Cupcakes.

Batter:

2 cups cake flour
1 ½ cups sugar
2/3 cup cocoa
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups buttermilk
½ cup Crisco
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place all ingredients in a large electric mixer bowl.  Blend together on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl.  Beat on high speed for 3 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally.  Pour into paper-lined muffin cups, filling half full, and bake for about 20 minutes.

Frosting:

¼ cup milk
¼ cup butter
6 ounce package chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 ½ cups powdered sugar

In a microwavable bowl, place milk, butter and chocolate chips.  Microwave for 1 minute, stir; if chocolate and butter are not melted, microwave for another minute.  Stir until smooth.  Add vanilla and powdered sugar and beat to a spreading consistency.  Frost cupcakes. 

Makes 24 cupcakes