You can never have enough Girl’s Night’s Out! In fact, we’re having a Girl’s Night IN that will include great conversation, fabulous wines and some delectable morsels. I couldn’t decide what to bring then it dawned on me…you can’t get a roomful of amazing ladies together and NOT have chocolate!! (Besides, nothing goes better than red wine and chocolate, right??) So, here we go -a decadent brownie-like cupcake that will make any night a memorable one.

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Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes

1/4 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup sugar

4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature

16 oz. Hershey’s chocolate syrup

1 tbls vanilla

1 cup flour

For the Ganache:

1/2 cup heavy cream

8 oz. Ghirardelli (or other good brand) semi-sweet choc. chips

1 tsp instant coffee granules

Line muffin pans with 12-16 paper liners. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time. Mix in the chocolate syrup and vanilla. Add the flour and mix until just combined. Don’t overbeat, or the cupcakes will be tough.

Scoop the batter into the muffin cups and bake for 30 minutes, or until just set in the middle. Don’t overbake! Let the cupcakes cool thoroughly in the pan.

For the ganache, cook the heavy cream, chocolate chips, and instant coffee in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until smooth and warm, stirring occasionally.

Remove cupcakes from the wrappers and dip the top of each cupcake in the ganache. Let set for a few minutes and serve. Do not refrigerate.

Chocolate Rules!

~ Thanks Ina Garten