Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes with Orange Basil Cream Cheese Frosting
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Watching Cupcake Wars on the Food Network Channel is like rubbernecking an accident. I shouldn’t watch, but I can’t help myself. As I follow the progression, I get nervous and I get a headache. I like to cook and bake slow and this is too fast paced for me, but that’s why it’s a war. And, it never ceases to amaze me how one baker will truly stand out, and perform so fabulously under pressure.
I’m not a competitive person, and if I were to find myself baking 1000 cupcakes in 4 flavors in 2 hours, I might panic a bit. But, I do like to compete with myself. So when the Franklin Farmer’s Market asked me for a recipe, I decided to look around my own website, find something interesting and make it better. I did a smack down with chocolate zucchini cake against myself. And, I won.
I did have to work against the clock too. I am in the middle of putting 300 volunteers in their places for a huge Labor Day Event, the Franklin Classic that benefits Mercy Children’s Clinic, a non-profit by appointment pediatric facility that never turns a child away for medical care. (shameless marketing).
Managing 300 volunteers might be more hectic than baking 1000 cupcakes, but there are no cameras to see me sweat.
The Process
I wanted to feature zucchini for the market newsletter, but figured everyone had cooked it in a million ways already. But, no one gets tired of chocolate, and everyone deserves a sweet treat now and again.
These are a lovely way to go from summer into autumn with cardamom and cinnamon spices, while still holding on to summer with zucchini in the cake and a touch of basil in orange cream cheese frosting.
If you end up refrigerating these, take them out an hour before eating. They are actually better the second day when the flavors have had a chance to meld. You can distinctly taste each spice and flavor and they are a great mouthful all at one time without being too much of any one thing.
You can find the recipe here, featured in the Franklin Farmer’s Market Newsletter.
The market is located in Franklin, a historic town located right outside Nashville, Tennessee.
Tell me, are you more the sweet or savory type?
These cupcakes sound absolutely fabulous! I’ve been toying with basil chocolate cake recipes and different frostings. Your orange and basil cream cheese frosting was the only one that came up with that combination in my search so far. I’m having a problem finding it in your link above. Is the recipe written anywhere else? I’m wondering if you finely chopped the basil or infused it somehow? I look forward to trying it…soon! Thank you.