Do you ever find yourself kind of WANTING baked goodies, but no real energy to make them? Thanks a lot, winter.

One of my resolutions this year was to blog monthly. Some months I can get so many recipes created and others, I feel completely buried in work and school that I just can’t find the time or energy to bake. The gloomy winter days make me sleepy, and a recent change at work has me a little stressed.
It’s good stress, but still. I got another position within the same company, this time in product development so I’m super excited to move over and start learning a ton of new things. Before I can do that, they have to find a replacement for me and suddenly I’m drowning in special projects work and I HAVE NO TIME. Adulting is rough.
These cupcakes were my one-bowl, 20 minute solution. The frosting was actually made a week ago and I had some leftover, which was kind of awesome. However, before I blog things I have to re-make them and make sure they work, so…I still have extra frosting, basically.

Is that ever a problem?

*Makes 12 cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients & Directions:
1 1/2 c. flour
2 T. corn starch
3/4 c. sugar
1 1/4 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
2 eggs
1/2 c. canola oil
1/2 c. milk
1 t. vanilla extract
1 c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners.
in a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the flour, corn starch, sugar, baking powder and salt, and stir until combined. Add eggs and stir in gently. Add oil, milk, and vanilla and stir until smooth. Fold in chocolate chips.
Fill liners 2/3 full and bake for 15-18 min, or a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 min, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

Frosting Ingredients & Directions:
1/2 c. semisweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled
1 c. butter, softened
1/4 c. cocoa powder
3 T. milk
1/2 t. vanilla extract
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

In a microwave-safe bowl, heat chocolate in microwave, stirring every 20 seconds, until melted and smooth, 1-3 min. Set aside.
Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, beat butter, cocoa, milk, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Beat in melted chocolate until combined. Slowly beat in powdered sugar. Adjust consistency as desired with more milk or more powdered sugar. Frost cupcakes as desired and enjoy!