Welcome to another year of “Eat This”! We’re starting the year with an easy but rewarding cupcake recipe that is sure to please both vanilla and chocolate cupcake fans. Using a vanilla cupcake recipe as a base, simply swirl in chocolate to create a marble batter. The chocolate fudge sauce is very complementary and easier than many icings, so try this recipe for any occasion.

Marble Cupcakes with a Fudge Sauce

Ingredients:

-2 1/2 cups flour

-2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

-1/4 tsp. salt

-1/2 cup butter, at room temperature

-1 3/4 cups sugar

-2 eggs, at room temperature

-2 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

-1 1/4 cups milk, at room temperature

-1/4 cup cocoa powder

Fudge:

1 cup cocoa powder

1 cup sugar 

1 cup heavy cream (35%)

1 stick butter, cubed 

3 teaspoons vanilla

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line two cupcake tins with cupcake liners; set aside.

2. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Scrape down bowl.

4. On low speed, add eggs one at a time, mixing slowly after each addition.

5. Add vanilla extract to milk and mix together.

6. Add one-third of the flour mixture followed by one-third of the milk mixture. Repeat until all ingredients are fully incorporated.

7. Pour approximately 3/4 of the batter into a separate bowl. In the mixer, add the cocoa powder to the remaining batter and mix until incorporated.

8. Add the chocolate batter to the vanilla batter and, using a butter knife, swirl the two together.

9. Using an ice cream scoop, divide batter amongst 24 cupcakes liners. Bake cupcakes for 18-20 minutes, checking at 15 minutes. Let cupcakes cool completely.

10. For the fudge sauce, combine the cocoa powder and sugar in a medium pot and whisk together. Stream the heavy cream into the pot and turn up the heat to medium. Once the cream is incorporated, add the butter and stir until it melts. Add the vanilla and stir. Let the sauce cool for 5 minutes before putting it in the fridge to solidify slightly.

11. Decorate the cupcakes by dipping each one into the fudge sauce.