Ganache-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes with Meringue Frosting

From Andie Evans
Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Makes 24-26 cupcakes

Ingredients

cupcakes
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup hot water
1 1/4 cups bittersweet chocolate chips (about 7 1/2 ounces; do not exceed 61% cacao)

filling and frosting
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips (do not exceed 61% cacao)
1 cup sugar
2 large egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Pinch of coarse kosher salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two 12-cup standard muffin pans with paper liners. Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until well incorporated after each addition. Beat in vanilla, half of flour mixture, then 1 cup hot water. Add remaining flour mixture; beat just until blended. Let batter stand until cooled and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips. Divide batter among muffin papers (about ¼ cup batter each).

Bake cupcakes until tester inserted into center comes out with some crumbs attached, 22 to 25 minutes. Cool cupcakes completely in pans.

filling and frosting

Bring cream just to boil in heavy small saucepan. Place chocolate chips in medium bowl; pour hot cream over. Let stand 1 minute, then whisk until melted and smooth. Let stand at room temperature until cool and firm, about 2 hours. (Alternatively, chill ganache until cool and firm, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.)
Whisk 1/3 cup water, sugar, egg whites, cream of tartar, and coarse salt to blend in large metal bowl. Set bowl over saucepan of barely simmering water. Using electric mixer, beat mixture until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Remove bowl from over water and continue beating until frosting is cool to touch, stiff, and billowy, about 2 minutes. Beat vanilla into frosting.

Using thumb, press down center of each cupcake from top to bottom, forming deep pocket. Spoon or pipe ganache into pocket of each cupcake.

Frost cupcakes, forming tall peaks.
Nutritional Information
One cupcake contains:
Calories (kcal) 310.5
%Calories from Fat 45.8
Fat (g) 15.8
Saturated Fat (g) 9.6
Cholesterol (mg) 46.4
Carbohydrates (g) 43.8
Dietary Fiber (g) 2.2
Total Sugars (g) 34.0
Net Carbs (g) 41.6
Protein (g) 3.2
Sodium (mg) 136.5