Chocolate Cupcake-Top Cookies with Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting are reminiscent of the top of a chocolate cupcake topped with a ganache-like frosting.
Like parents with more than one child, my affection for frosted cookies multiplies with each new recipe added to my collection.
RECIPE INSPIRATION
This whole obsession with frosted cookies started with the ugly, irregularly shaped, frosted cinnamon cookies my Grandma baked for us and stored in her metal-lined bread drawer.
I loved her cookies almost as much as I loved her. She loved me, too, though she didn’t speak it, even when I was ugly and rather irregular myself.
Now that I have a food blog and a grandson of my own, I’m on a quest to build the world’s largest frosted cookie recipe collection. It’s on my bucket list–if I had one–to try all varieties of frosted cookies before I die.
It may not be the noblest calling, but it’s easier and more fun (and way more likely) than climbing Mount Everest or feeding all the hungry children of the world.
Perhaps I’m just hoping my grandson will someday have fond memories of his grandma like I do. That’s a worthy goal, isn’t it?
One early morning on my way to work recently, I dropped off some reject cookies at my friend’s house. Joan later reported they tasted like the top of a frosted cupcake. Yes! She’s absolutely right.
These cookies are just like little chocolate cakes with a rich chocolate frosting. Throwing a little instant espresso and Dutch-process cocoa into the dough makes these babies dark and flavorful.
THE SECRET INGREDIENT IN THE CHOCOLATE FROSTING
There is a magic ingredient in the frosting. I hesitate to say it but here goes. Sour cream. (Lite sour cream works just fine.) I promise you won’t taste anything that reminds you of sour cream. If you aren’t into frosting as much as I am, just swipe a little across the top. It’s not necessary to get fancy.
Speaking of fancy, thanks to Annie of Annie’s Eats for putting me on to the mechanical pastry bag available from Williams-Sonoma. The large tip is what I used to decorate the cookies in the first picture.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- FLOUR: The recipe calls for unbleached but you could substitute bleached flour.
- COCOA: I like Hershey’s brand Special Dark-a blend of natural and Dutch cocoa.
- BUTTER: Be sure to let the butter soften to room temperature.
- SUGAR: Use granulated sugar. No substitutes.
- BUTTERMILK OR UNFLAVORED YOGURT: If using yogurt, thin with milk to the consistency of buttermilk.
- INSTANT ESPRESSO: This is a powdered product you will find in the tea and coffee aisle. Add it to any recipes with a lot of chocolate to intensify the chocolate flavor. You won’t detect the coffee flavor.
- BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS: I use Ghiradelli bittersweet chips but semi-sweet chips would also work if you like your chocolate sweeter.
- SOUR CREAM: You can substitute lite sour cream for full-fat.
MORE FROSTED COOKIE RECIPES
Double Chocolate Oatmeal Refrigerator Cookies
A chocolate slice-and-bake cookie dough with oatmeal and mini chocolate chips. A long-time family favorite.
Cookies and Cream Brownies
A brownie so rich, it should be served in small pieces to avoid passing out from extreme pleasure.
Frosted Lemon Cookies (with Greek Yogurt)
A cake-like cookie featuring the tanginess of Greek yogurt and the tartness of lemon--covered by the sweet crunchiness of a lemon glaze
Pink Shortbread Cookies
A simple but delicious shortbread cookie with a smooth butter icing. Kids and adults alike love these.
Baby Black and White Cookies
This Black and White Cookie recipe is smaller in size than the classic cookie but fresher and tastier than the average store-bought black and white cookie.
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Hope to see you again soon!
Paula
p.s. If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email me privately: paula at saladinajar.com.
Chocolate Cupcake Tops (aka Frosted Chocolate Cookies)
These will remind you of the top of a chocolate cupcake. A soft, tender cookie with ganache-like, fudgy frosting.
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, unbleached
- 2 tablespoons cocoa
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter (softened)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
- 3/4 cup buttermilk or unflavored yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Frosting
- 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup sour cream + another tablespoon
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Whisk or sift together flour, cocoa, soda, and salt.
- Use a stand mixer to beat butter until smooth. Add in sugar and mix for two minutes. Add cooled chocolate and mix. Add egg and mix for another minute.
- Combine buttermilk or yogurt, espresso, and vanilla. Add alternately with dry ingredients and blend just until mixed.
- Chill in the refrigerator at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto lightly greased cookie sheet. Although they look fairly big in the pictures here, I like to make mine small so I can have seconds. 🙂 Bake 8-10 minutes until no imprint remains when cookie is lightly touched. Frost cookies when cooled.
Chocolate Icing
- Melt chocolate in microwave on MEDIUM for 2 minutes. Stir and let stand for 3-4 minutes till it all melts. Stir in sour cream. Add powdered sugar and beat with a spoon until smooth and shiny.
- Frosting will be thick and gloppy at first but as you beat, it will become smooth and shiny. Add another tablespoon or more of sour cream to thin to spreadable consistency. Spread on cooled cookies immediately. Let cookies sit until frosting dries slightly.
Notes
Freeze baked cookies unfrosted. Frosting will hold in the refrigerator for a few days. Microwave for 15 seconds and stir until glossy again.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
36Serving Size:
2Amount Per Serving: Calories: 144Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 98mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 10gProtein: 2g
Mary
Wednesday 17th of August 2011
Thanks for sharing this recipe.
I grew up in the Wilkes-Barre area, and a department store called, "Lazarus" used to sell "Black Bottom Cookies". These were chocolate cupcake tops, with vanilla frosting, which was topped with fresh coconut. Delicious!!
The store's been closed for decades; the bakery there's out of business, and every now and then I have a yen to bake up a batch, but couldn't find a recipe anywhere!
Your recipe comes closest, and I will add the frosting and coconut topping.
Thanks again!!!
Mary
Paula
Wednesday 17th of August 2011
Mary, those cookies sound wonderful. I may have to try it myself. Let me know if you come up with a winner.
Jeannette
Monday 30th of August 2010
Wow, these look phenomenal!! These are getting bookmarked for when my sister (the frosting fiend) comes over :D
Lynne
Sunday 29th of August 2010
From one grandma to another-your frosted cookies are fab! I have my grandchildren visiting over Labor Day. These look perfect to make for them.
Susie
Friday 27th of August 2010
I like your frosted cookie idea. We need to add my cutout sugar cookies & frosting to the website, maybe around the holidays. :)
MaryMoh
Friday 27th of August 2010
I need to be in chocolate heaven now! These look so pretty and tempting. Thanks very much for sharing.