Recipe of the Week: Valentines Muffin

      Have you ever looked at an item on Neopets and thought "That looks good! I wish I could reach through the screen and take a bite!"? Well, now you can! Well, sort of. Now you, too, can make delicious detectable delights straight from Neopia in the comfort of your own home.

      Disclaimer: If you are under 18 please get an adult to assist you. If you are allergic to any of the ingredients listed please do not attempt to make any of the recipes, or find a substitute for said ingredient. Be safe! We don't want anything to happen to you, but we are not held responsible for any burns, scratches, or any other baking related mishaps.

      Last week we made Neggnog Cheesecake and it was exquisite! The creamy, sweet taste of the eggnog mixed with the crumbly graham cracker crust, the thick caramel, and the light and fluffy whipped cream…I could eat it all year round! This week, though, we're making something equally as yummy. And better than that…chocolate!

      This week's recipe: Valentine's Muffin

      That's right, a Valentine's pastry for Valentine's Day! Except we're going to make a Valentine's cupcake instead, because why not? I know, we've already done cupcakes twice already, but it's because they're oh so yummy.

      Ingredients Needed: granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, canola or vegetable oil, milk, eggs, vanilla extract, coffee (optional), hot water, strawberries, powdered sugar, chocolate chips, softened butter or margarine, heart sprinkles/candies, mixer or whisk, oven, oven mitts, mixing bowls, cupcake liners, cupcake pan.

      Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Get assistance with this step if needed.

      Step 2: Line your cupcake pan with cupcake liners. I suggest pretty red and pink ones for the spirit of Valentine's Day!

      Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups granulated sugar, ¾ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 1/3 cup + 2 tbsp of all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 ½ tsp baking soda, and 1 tsp of salt. Whisk together until everything is combined.

      Step 4: Add 2/3 cups of canola oil (or vegetable oil) and 1 cup of milk. Stir until everything is combined.

      Step 5: Add 2 tsp of vanilla extract. Stir until everything is combined.

      Step 6: Add 1 cup hot coffee OR hot water. It is VERY important whichever you use it is hot (the hotter the better, but be careful not to burn yourself!) because the heat reacts with the cocoa powder and causes the chocolate flavor to fully develop. Coffee is known to enhance chocolate flavors, but if you don't like/have coffee, hot water is fine too! Just make sure not to use both.

      The batter will separate when you pour the water or coffee in. Stir until everything is mixed together and the texture is even. The batter will be very thin, but that's ok!

      Step 7: Stir in about ½ cup of chocolate chips. The image courtesy of Neopets shows what looks like chocolate chips in the muffin, so that's why we're adding these. Plus it doubles the chocolate, and there's nothing wrong with that!

      Step 8: Fill the cupcake liners just over 2/3 of the way full.

      Step 9: Using assistance if needed, put the pan in the preheated oven. Bake for about 18-22 minutes, or until you can insert a toothpick in the middle and have it come out clean.

      Now we're going to make the frosting that goes on top! Muffins don't usually have frosting, but the description on the item says “chocolate, strawberries and fresh vanilla icing make this a treat your loved one will adore”, so that's what we're going to do!

      Step 10: In a clean, medium sized mixing bowl mix 3 cups of powdered sugar, and 1/3 cup softened butter or margarine. Mix it on low with your electric mixer. If you don't have an electric mixer you can use a spoon.

      Step 11: Gradually add 1 tsp of milk at a time until the frosting is smooth and spreadable. If it's too thick continue adding milk, if it gets too thin add a little more powdered sugar.

      Step 12: When the cupcakes come out, allow them to cool until they are no longer warm to the touch. If they're warm when you put the frosting on it will melt and you'll have a mess on your hands. You can add the frosting one of two days. I prefer to use an open star tip piping bag and twisting the top closed so it doesn't come out and using my wrist to navigate, I like to add a swirl of frosting on top. If you'd prefer, you can use a rubber spatula or butter knife and smooth a layer of frosting over the top of the cupcake.

      The next few steps are somewhat optional. The picture of the muffin has a strawberry in the shape of a heart on it, so you can either take the stem off the strawberry, and put a whole strawberry on top, or you can follow the directions below to cut your strawberries into pretty little hearts. If you choose to follow the following steps either get assistance or be very careful, as it does involve a knife.

      Step 13: After washing and drying the strawberries, get a paring knife. Cut the stem off each strawberry in a 'v' shape, then use the knife to round the top edges of the strawberry so it looks like a heart.

      Step 14: Slice the strawberry in half, and then slice the halves into halves. You should have 4 pieces of strawberries. If you have really small strawberries you may only get 2 pieces.

      Step 15: Slice just enough off the sides so the rounded edges are gone and you have a small strawberry heart

      Bonus tip: If you'd like to get creative, melt some chocolate chips and dip half of the strawberry heart inside for some chocolate covered hearts!

      Step 16: For this step you can use either heart sprinkles or heart candies. I like to use the little red heart candies you can buy. Sprinkle them generously around the cupcake.

      Step 17: Take a picture, eat and enjoy! Better yet, present to your loved one(s) on Valentine's Day!