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Monday, October 29, 2012

Chocolate, Olive Oil & Sea Salt Cupcakes

Chocolate, Olive Oil & Sea Salt Cupcakes
I'm back! How's everyone doing? I don't know if you missed me but I definitely missed blogging on here. I just got back from my honeymoon in Europe where I had the most amazing time ever (you might have noticed if you happen to be following me on instagram) and even though I am still completely, utterly messed up thanks to the evilness that is jet leg I couldn't wait to get back into the kitchen to whip something up.
Chocolate, Olive Oil & Sea Salt Cupcakes
It feels so good to be excited about baking and blogging again. Right before I left for my trip I was so weary of everything and completely out of new ideas. It was nice to be forced away from updating the blog every week, to give myself some breathing room and a much needed break from my regular routine.
Chocolate, Olive Oil & Sea Salt Cupcakes
My holiday was packed full of so much good food; I dined at Heston Blumenthal's restaurant in London, ate ridiculous amounts of bread, cheese, foie gras and pastries in Paris, drank so many jugs of sangria with tapas every night in Barcelona and gorged myself on stroopwafels and fresh herrings in Amsterdam. Not only that, I had about 2 weeks in KL to get my fill of all my favourite Malaysian food. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be suffering from the post-holiday blues for the next few weeks while I get back into the swing of things in Sydney, but my travels did give me plenty of inspiration for new baking ideas.
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This recipe might look like nothing special, but the combination of really great chocolate, olive oil and sea salt was one I encountered a lot on my holiday and managed to make me fall in love chocolate desserts all over again. The flavours are simple but beautiful. The jet lag meant that I didn't have the energy to bother with macarons or layered cakes or fancy piping, but it didn't really need it in this case. These little olive oil cakes are super soft and moist and topped with fluffy bittersweet ganache. The sea salt on top gives it little pops of flavour that breakup the richness of the chocolate.
Chocolate, Olive Oil & Sea Salt Cupcakes
Along with all the dessert inspiration that I picked up along the way, we also spent a couple of days in the most charming little English town Arundel, where we visited Aaron's grandmother and I managed to pick up a few awesome props as well. There were so many amazing antiques but unfortunately I could only bring back a few small things that would fit in my suitcase and would get through Australian border security. I also had the best fish pie EVER. Anyway, I probably won't write up a post about my honeymoon since I didn't take my DSLR with me, but I will definitely make sure to share some of my stories from the trip in my future posts. It's good to be back!
Chocolate, Olive Oil & Sea Salt Cupcakes
Chocolate, Olive Oil & Sea Salt Cupcakes
(makes 8-10 cupcakes, feel free to double the recipe for a larger batch, adapted from this Martha Stewart recipe)
2 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
110g (about 1/2 cup) sugar
1 packed tsp finely grated orange zest
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2/3 cup cake flour (not self-rising, I made my own using these instructions)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder

For the chocolate ganache:
200g (7oz) good quality dark chocolate, finely chopped
150ml (about 2/3 cup) pure/pouring cream (or heavy whipping cream in the US, min 35% fat unthickened)
Optional: 1/2 cup icing (confectioner's) sugar, sifted
Sea salt, to sprinkle on top

Preheat oven to 160°C (about 325°F). Place 8-10 paper liners in a cupcake tray. Whisk eggs, yolk, granulated sugar and orange zest in a medium bowl until foamy. Add oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly until combined. Whisk flour, salt, and baking powder in a small bowl. Fold into egg mixture in 3 additions. Fill cupcake papers, about 2/3 full, and bake until light gold and testers inserted into centers come out clean, about 15 minutes. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out and cool completely on a wire rack.
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Prepare the ganache; place chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Gently heat cream in a small saucepan until it just comes to the boil. Pour over the top of chocolate and set aside for 5 minutes to allow the chocolate to melt. Use a whisk to stir the mixture together until smooth. Chill until it reaches room temperature and thickens. At this point you can spread the ganache over the top of your cupcakes, or if you prefer you can add the icing sugar and beat the mixture using an electric mixer to make it fluffy (beating the mixture increases the risk that it will split, so be careful not to overmix). Spoon or pipe over the top of cupcakes and sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on top. Serve immediately, or store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Chocolate, Olive Oil & Sea Salt Cupcakes

40 comments:

  1. Welcome back! Sounds like you had a wonderful honeymoon :) These look nice and easy - no butter melting or creamy. Hurray ! And the ganache looks super fudgy and rich yum

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  2. I would be lying if I didn't say I was envious of every pic you instagrammed :) Great to see you have your baking mojo back again - these look delectable. Love the sprinkle of salt on top! And welcome home :)

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  3. Welcome back Steph! Hope you had an amazing honeymoon - it certainly looked like it from your instagram pics! The ganache on these cupcakes looks super smooth and I am totally eyeing your pretty purple spatula lol

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  4. These look great! I'm glad to hear you had a good honeymoon, and glad you're back with renewed enthusiasm :) hope the jet lag clears soon!

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  5. I bet the olive oil makes these cupcakes super moist. Can't wait to try this sweet, salty, and savory treat!

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  6. The cupcakes look absolutely beautiful, I love sweet and savoury combos! Nice to have you back blogging!:)
    Greetings from Finland!

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  7. Welcome back Steph! Glad to hear your had an awesome honeymoon trip. Can't wait to see your new inspiration recipes here.

    Cheers!

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  8. I love these cupcakes! Simple flavors are often the best. :)

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  9. These sound delicious, but I'm a bit worried about all the salt on top!!

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  10. aw! my aunt and uncle live in arundel!
    isn't it just one of the loveliest place?! :)

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    Replies
    1. it's one of the quaintest and most charming places imaginable! loved it!

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  11. Great recipe, I'm so curious what chocolate and salt combined taste like! Good to have you back.

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  12. Yayyyy welcome home! You have been sorely missed xx

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  13. I had the most delicious chocolate mousse with olive oil and sea salt in Tapac24 in Barcelona - this reminds me of that but in beautiful cupcake form!

    Welcome back from your honeymoon - I've definitely missed your amazing posts :-)

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    Replies
    1. Yes! That dessert was one of my main inspirations for this recipe :)

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  14. Ahh I visited Arundel a few months ago! Fantastic antique shops and wonderful afternoon tea!

    Glad to have you back.

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  15. Welcome back! Can't wait for more honeymoon inspired posts. I am crushing on your round cooling rack! Salt makes everything better. These look just wonderful.

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  16. Hey Steph :) Sure sounds like you had a great time! And it's great to have you back, and, as always, sharing these lovely recipes :)

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  17. Oh wow! These sound amazing. I'm glad you enjoyed your holiday! :)

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  18. Welcome back! Glad you enjoyed your trip. This cupcakes look so amazingly delicious. Yummy! Chocolate, olive oil, sea salt - scrumptious!

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  19. This looks so pretty. Love the pictures. Relatively healthier for a cupcake. Love your blog, my first time.

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  20. Welcome back Steph. Your inpsiring posts have been missed, as well as yourself of course. So wonderful to hear you had an amazing time in Europe and KL for that matter. Looking forward to your upcoming ideas and how you've sourced your inspiration from your travels. Love the look of the cupcake - danity yet sounds like it's full of flavour x

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  21. Wow Heston Blumenthal's restaurant! Sounds like you had a wonderful time. The cupcakes look absolutely gorgeous!

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  22. your trip sounded super dreamy...

    i hear ya about getting burned out on baking.. glad to hear you're feeling reinspired (how could you not after so much amazing food/meals/inspiration abroad...) these are lovely and simple-seeming cupcakes but it's true, pure and beautiful ingredients will elevate anything... !

    :)

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  23. i believe you about the combination of this being wonderful. they look wonderful!

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  24. oh these look utterly scrumptious! I love the addition of sea salt will sure give it a try. Glad u had a lovely time honeymooning :-)

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  25. At first I was taken aback by the mix of olive oil, salt and chocolate but you've convinced me that I'd probably go back for seconds! :) I shall try soon!

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  26. Yum! These look amazing! Definitely trying...

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  27. I have always been amused to be here....simply an awesome post..

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  28. Ooh! I just ate at Heston's restaurant too. I see you tried the tipsy cake... did you have the brown bread icecream? It was a weird combo of flavours like these cakes of yours, but it worked so well!

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    1. I really wanted it but my husband got the cheese platter instead :( So I forced him to get the ice cream trolley with me after that!

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  29. for the ganache - did you add the icing sugar for the cupcakes pictured in this recipe?

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    1. Yes I did, the chocolate I used was pretty bitter so it needed it

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    2. awesome thanks! also, if i was to make mini cupcakes instead of regular sized ones, how long do you recommend i bake them for?

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    3. I wouldn't know for sure, you'll just have to keep checking on them and take them out once a skewer inserted into the centre of one comes out clean.

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  30. I'm so glad you had a refreshing trip!

    These cupcakes sound - and look - wonderful!

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  31. I'm glad for you because you enjoy very much on your honeymoon and that rally inspired you to make amazing cupcakes.I'm delighted with them! I've featured this recipes on my blog! I hope you don't mind! If you don't agree with that please contact me and I will remove it. All the best.

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  32. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! Love it :D

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  33. Hi! I completely adore your blog. I actually used to live in Australia and fell completely in love with it. One of my best friends still lives there (she's Australian!). Anyway, this cupcake combination has me swooning. I've been wanting to make something similar but with pancakes. Happy holidays! xo

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