Birthday Cupcakes

My mom and dad were here this weekend and we had an awesome time! :-) We took in the interesting art, machines, and scenery in Jerome, (that's mom enjoying the view) and had cupcakes for mom's birthday on Saturday!! I've now made these cupcakes twice in 2 weeks, because they are just awesome. They're what I make when I need a dessert that I don't have to get anything special to make it. (Though sometimes I cheat and buy frosting, because it's so darn good!) To be fair, these are nothing compared to Liz's Superhero Princess cupcakes :-) but at least they taste good.

Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

2 squares (2 oz.) unsweetened or semi-sweetened chocolate
1 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
¼ t. salt
1 c. sugar
½ c. butter, softened
2 eggs
2/3 c. buttermilk
1 t. vanilla
1 c. mini chocolate chips

Frosting:

1 ½ c. powdered sugar
2 T. cocoa
2 ½ T. milk
2 T. butter, softened
¼ c. mini chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 325. Line muffin tins with paper liners. Melt chocolate in microwave in 30 second intervals, being careful not to burn it.

2. In a small bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt. In large bowl, beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

3. Alternately, beat flour mixture and buttermilk into sugar mixture. Stir in melted chocolate and vanilla. In a small bowl, toss chocolate chips in 1 T. flour to prevent them from sinking. Stir into batter.

4. Spoon batter into muffin cups. Bake 20 minutes or until tops are firm. Transfer pans to wire racks to cool. Remove from pans when cool.

5. Meanwhile, mix powdered sugar and cocoa; blend in milk and butter until smooth. Spread frosting over cupcakes, then sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.