Countdown to Valentine's Day: Chocolate Pecan Cupcakes

For a special treat for kids or adults, why not make up a batch of moist, Chocolate Pecan Cupcakes with cream cheese icing for your loved-ones...or for yourself? The secret "moist-maker" in these gems is buttermilk. The tartness of the buttermilk balances the sweetness for a perfectly balanced taste. The toasted pecans are on the bottom for a nice surprise at the end. From start to finish, these portable goodies will make anyone's day. Do you have a favorite treat for your sweetie that you would like to share? Drop us a line at thesoutherndish@gmail.com.

Chocolate Pecan Cupcakes
3/4 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. sugar
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
6 T. cocoa powder, such as Hershey's
3 T. hot tap water
3 T. butter, melted
6 T. buttermilk
1 egg
1 egg white
24 pecan halves, lightly toasted
Hershey's Kisses or Hugs or Dove heart-shaped promises or other candy for decorating tops

Quick Cream Cheese Icing
3 oz. cream cheese (reduced-fat is okay here)
1 c. confectioners' sugar

Beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Reserve icing.

To make cupcakes, preheat oven to 350. Place pecan halves on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven until just toasted. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners and place two toasted pecan halves in the bottom of each one. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, mix cocoa powder with and 3 tablespoons hot tap water to dissolve. Add butter, buttermilk, egg, and egg white to chocolate mixture; beat well. Stir in flour mixture until batter is smooth and shiny. Spoon batter into prepared cupcake liners. Bake about 20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Place cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely before icing. Ice with cream cheese icing or other desired icing. Top with a chocolate candy such as Hershey’s Kisses or Hugs or Dove heart-shaped Promises.