Sean’s Chocolate Chile Cupcakes
Published January 24, 2011 | 
Last weekend we were invited over to son Sean and daughter-in-law Stacey’s house for lunch.
For Christmas we gave them a bright red KitchenAid stand mixer so after a tasty lunch of Pepita Spinach Salad…
and a bowl of Rick Bayless Tortilla Soup…
Sean whipped up a great little cupcake creation. Let’s take a look.
What makes these cupcakes special is that Sean dry pan roasted a dried New Mexico chile pod, then crushed it into flakes. He sprinkled flakes into the chocolate batter before baking and then also sprinkled the flakes over the cream cheese frosting before serving. Topped with a slice of pickled jalapeno and you’ve got a flirtatious combination of chocolate and heat. We loved it!
Moist, spicy and delicious, these cupcakes were a hit with us. He followed a cupcake recipe from America’s Test Kitchen and a cream cheese frosting recipe from Ina’s new cookbook. And believe me, that New Mexico chile pod packed a wallop of heat that made that creamy chocolate flavor stand up and salute! As far as I’m concerned this officially earns Sean the designation of an original recipe creation and its own name.
Sean’s Chile Chocolate Cupcakes…It’s What’s For Dessert.
I love chocolate and chili together. I bet these were great!
Woohoo, hot chocolate! They look fabulous… gotta try ‘em
I’ve been eating chili’d chocolate for the last few months. Lindt has a really good balance. Some of the others have been WAY to spicy.
I’ve seen those chili’s chocolate bars at the market and have wanted to try them. I loved Sean’s combination..it was hot, in a creamy chocolate sort of way. Thanks for stopping by and the comment Drew.
Great pictures. These cupcakes look fantastic. Sean is a mighty good baker.
i too like spicy chocolate combinations, but this might actually be too hardcore for me… i’m impressed
Actually I thought it was a great combination and the heat wasn’t too overwhelming. It all depends on the chile pepper used.
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I love this. I often purchase a dark chocolate with heat from Cost Plus. The combination is amazing. What fun to enjoy a cooking day with family! I want Sean’s soup recipe.
Kristi
Kristie, that recipe is in a Rick Bayless cookbook. If you don’t have it, I’ll email it over to you. Let me know. I agree, chocolate and chile are a great combo. I drive right by a Cost Plus on my way to work, I’ll have to pull in and look for that chocolate.
Chocolate and chile make a great combo. I’m intrigued by the pickled chile on top? Looks like you’ve been added pickled chiles to an assortment of flavors these days. I’ll have to get with it.
Andrea, A slice of pickled jalapeno seems to find it’s way into all sort of dishes these days…you’re right.
My friend Neal, the chocolatier, adds chilis to some of his chocolates – LOVE this combo. I’ll be the cupcakes were fabulous! I’d really love to try that tortilla soup, too.
P.S. How fun to see a picture of Sean!
Vickie, I’m with you, love the combo of chile and chocolate. The cupcakes were very good. The recipe calls for vinegar and coffee, so moist and flavorful. That Rick Bayless Tortilla soup is very popular. If you don’t have the cookbook that has the recipe in it, I’ll email you the recipe.
I have an R.B. cookbook on order … will let you know. Thx!
Very creative. Just curious. how much chile did he add to the chocolate batter? Was it super spicy for a dessert?
Mmmmm, love this combination. I used some crushed chilies not long ago in a cherry cobbler for a chile competition. I didn’t win anything but my family loved it. Great going with the Kitchen Aid mom and dad!
I remember that recipe Karen…I went wild over and. I’ve not tried making it but I sure bookmarked it in a hurry.
I think I better get Ina’s new book…everyone seems to like it a lot. I have her others. Love the combo of spicyt and chocolate, don’t you? Go Sean!
I have her new cookbook and haven’t looked through it much. I’m sure everything in it is good.
Aw, man…mmm. Now I’m gonna have to start kissin’ up to Sean too…
Too funny Dan!
Wow! That’s one unique cupcake! I am sure Sean will put that KitchenAid to good use. I like theat soup too
That soup was wonderful Biren…nothing like a good tortilla soup.
I know it’s popular, but I’ve never been able to appreciate the spicy/chocolate combo. I’m too much of a hick I guess.
I doubt you’re a hick, you probably have a finely developed palate.
Chocolate, chili and a glass of red wine, and I would be in such a happy place. The cupcakes are creative, no doubt fabulous. I can see that your gift of a Kitchen Ad mixer is being put to good use. That was a great gift. No kitchen should be without one.
Velva
Oh yeah Velva, love the addition of red wine.
We have the same mixer! Lover that thing. I’ve not ever had chiles with chocolate…but I think I’d like it
There are several gourmet brand candy bars that mix the two flavors. I’ve not had one but will grab a bar next time I see one. We have that same mixer too. It’s wonderful
His cupcakes look wonderful, but then so does everything else
. It must have been fun to get together and share this feast. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary
Sean is a great and creative cook. I can’t even take much responsibility for it…except inspiration.
Nice meal! I love the pairing of chile with chocolate. My KA was a gift from my mama just before she passed away so I know how special a gift those are!! Thanks for stopping by today – hope you have a great week.
Thanks Mary.
I see your son is as excellent a chef as his mother is! Bravo! These cupcakes are practically gourmet!
Thanks Joanne..he’s much more creative than me.
wow amazing cupcakes and what a feast
Thanks Rebecca
What a delicious surprise for a cupcake! The jalapeno on top is like a warning for what’s to come. I love it – the meal looks pretty darn delicious from start to finish.
I think my clan would love the chocolate / chile mix, but the jalapeno on top might scare some of the kids. Cheers!
I didn’t eat my jalapeno. Was too anxious to get to that creamy chocolate
The cupcakes sound like fun — and the tortilla soup sounds amazing!
Rick Bayless’ recipe is really good Beth.
{cat calls} Man, that mixer is a looker, huh!? Wish I had a bowl of Tortilla Soup and one of his awesome capcakes to top it off
(…so tell me more about this “allowing advertising” thing. Why is that “bad”? Sorry, off context of your post, but you got me wondering.)
I have a friend here in Denver who enters National Contests all the time. She makes some pretty good bucks. But, she can’t have advertising on her blog…guess if we accept money that makes us professionals???
Google Eat, Drink and Wash Up blog. She lives just a few miles from me and her latest post is about appearing on the Martha Stewart show with one of her award winning recipes.
Chocolate and Chile in cupcakes! Very interesting. I love it!
Thanks Ellie! The cupcake recipe is the star. Moist and delicious.
Whoa, those are some fantastic looking cupcakes; chocolate with heat sounds amazing!
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