Valentine Message Cupcakes

Okay, these are a bit late, a bit after-the-fact, but that doesn't ruin their charm. Perhaps you missed Valentine's Day or didn't shower your sweetheart with love and need a way to make it up to him or her. You could also make these Hostess-like cupcakes with any kind of decoration or writing on top, as my sister pointed out to me.

These cupcakes come from Martha Stewart, and you can find the Recipe Here.

Instead of using her One Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes, however, I used my favorite chocolate cake recipe from Rose Levy Beranbaum, called Perfect All American Chocolate Butter Cake.

I piped some modern messages, as well, at Steve's suggestion.

Steve, my husband, declared these cupcakes "hot" and "sexy," due to their shiny chocolate glaze. Although these cupcakes are shinier than when dried (the above picture shows glaze that is not yet dried), the dried glaze also proves rather shiny.

A couple of problems: One, I'm still learning how to use my camera and photographed these in a rush one morning last week during a 2-hour snow delay for school, hence the not-so-fabulous pictures. I'm still learning about light. Two, the plastic wrap stuck to the cupcakes, ruining the shiny glaze and creating those ugly pockmarks. Lesson Learned: I'm purchasing a cupcake carrier this week.