Valentine Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache

Well it's February and you know what that means.
Valentine sweet treats!!

A box of chocolates and specialty cookies left over from Christmas make perfect Valentine's Day cupcake toppers.

Dipping the cupcakes into a little chocolate ganache before frosting makes them even more special.

Make Valentine cupcakes for the sweethearts in your life.
They will like you.
A lot.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache

1 box Devil's Food chocolate cake mix
1 cup buttermilk
4 eggs
1/3 cup canola oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line pan with 24 cupcake liners.

Sift cake mix into a large mixing bowl.
Add eggs, buttermilk and oil. Using an electric mixer, mix until ingredients are all combined.
Using a large cookie scoop, fill liners 2/3 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until done.
Cool on a wire rack.

Ganache:
1 cup chocolate chips
1/4 c heavy cream

When your cupcakes are cooled, place chocolate chips and whipping cream in a heat proof bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds and then stir. Continue to microwave in 10 second increments and stirring in between until it's smooth.
Dip the tops of your cooled cupcakes into the ganache and let set before frosting.

Buttercream Frosting:

3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

6 cups confectioners sugar
1 T whipping cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract

In the bowl of your stand mixer add butter and mix for about 1 minute.

Add confectioners sugar one cup at a time.
Add whipping cream and vanilla extract and beat until light and fluffy.
Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes.

Garnish with Valentine sprinkles and decorative chocolates and/or cookies.