Chocolate Malt Cupcakes with Chocolate Malt Frosting

It’s a very special day today!

It’s my one and only boy’s 5th Birthday!

I sat him down a few days ago and asked him what kind of cupcakes he would like me to make for his preschool class for this momentous occasion. I gave him a few options, but he quickly shot them down and stated that he wanted, “Chocolate, with chocolate, and maybe some more chocolate.”

A boy after my own heart.

A mom can’t refuse her one and only son.

After all, Mother’s Day is just around the corner and I’m still trying to score some brownie points.

I know these cupcakes look super-dooper fancy and all, but they are actually a snap to make. I made these for a group of 4 and 5 year olds, so I wasn’t about to go the “from scratch” route. I like adding to box mixes, it makes me feel creative, without getting frustrated.

So here I have just a Devil’s Food box mix with your standard eggs, water and oil. To kick up these cupcakes a notch, I added a big helping of chocolate malted milk powder, and my secret ingredient of sour cream.

The malted milk powder smells a little funny by itself, but when added to the wet ingredients it brings out that creamy malt flavor.

The sour cream is awesome at making the cake super rich and moist. And I’m almost convinced that it makes the most perfect shaped cupcakes in all the world.

I usually have some funky shaped cupcakes that explode over the rim of the cupcake pan and get stuck. Not this time though. These were all perfect dome shaped cupcakes. Moist as all get out too!

Convinced yet?

I’m not going to lie, I originally made a batch of instant pudding frosting that I’ve spied all over Pinterest. It tasted incredible, but I didn’t like the consistency for piping onto these cupcakes. So I went with a classic chocolate buttercream frosting infused with more chocolate malted milk powder.

It turned out rich and fluffy, and perfect for frosting these little guys.

I could have stopped here, but it is his 5th birthday, and I desperately wanted to impress all the other preschool moms, so I added a creamy layer of chocolate ganache right on top.

So easy- just heat up some heavy cream in a microwave safe dish until hot and bubbly. Pour over some bittersweet chocolates, and whisk until smooth and creamy.

Done.

Let it cool slightly and then drizzle it on top of the buttercream frosting.

Top each cupcake with a Whopper {chocolate covered malt ball}, and call it good.

Or incredible, whatever you prefer.

Happy Birthday little dude! Mommy loves you very much!

p.s.- just remember this when Mother’s Day comes around…

p.p.s.- looooooove you!!

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