Ferrero Rocher Cupcakes with Nutella Buttercream

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“Drink your water, people.”

“He’s a bad, bad man.”

“Party’s almost over…what a bummer!”

“Ab……Ripper…..X.”

 

Anyone out there who has ever attempted P90x will lovingly (or maybe not so lovingly) laugh when you read those phrases.  I don’t know about you, but I actually hear Tony Horton saying them in my brain, which makes me automatically reach higher..chest up..arms up…head up.  Everything Up.  P90x…I hate it, but I love it. I’ve got my favorite cast members (Pam the Blam) and my not-so-favorite cast members (Frogboy, anyone?)

And I can officially say that, yes, in fact, I am a P90X graduate now.  And I am not saying that in a boastful way.  This was intense for me.  I took longer than 90 days because I took breaks over holidays and a few long weekend trips out of town where I didn’t work out.  It was a definite love-hate relationship.  In the beginning, if I had plans in the evening, I would make sure to get up extra early to “squeeze in” the minimum hour of pure pain and near-syncopal episodes.  I followed the first phase of the diet plan religiously, which was really hard, given that I don’t eat meat.  I got really really tired of egg whites.   And I definitely had a glass of wine (or two) if I was out with friends and didn’t give up (and won’t ever give up) visiting and sampling cheese displays at grocery stores.

Being 32 and realizing that my cholesterol was high was a bit of a wake-up call.  My body mass index was in the normal range, I don’t smoke, I get regular health screenings and teeth cleanings, and I walk my dog.  I was actually pretty surprised when my LDL was high (see above:  cheese displays.) But, with my dad’s recent serious health scares and long-standing history of diabetes, I knew that I needed to take care of myself a little bit better.

I think, and this is my humble and honest opinion, that so often, as women (and if you are a man reading this, you are awesome and this might apply to you as well), we neglect to take care of ourselves.  Sure, we can get our hair and nails done, buy statement necklaces, and maybe even splurge a bit on hair products. But that’s just the external shell.  I’m talking about major transformative change in the way of altering our chemical make-up.  (more on this topic in coming posts.)

Working out is hard for everyone.  After a long work day, I would much rather have a date with my couch, a cat on my lap, a few chocolate caramel truffles, and Real Housewives of Orange County.  But after this whole experience, I know that I deserve to push myself to the limits as far as physical strength goes.  And P90X is a pretty extreme way to do this (I do still modify plenty of the moves.).

So here are the results:  Overall, I lost about 5-6 pounds of solid fat.  Blubber.  Mostly around my butt and thighs (BOOYAH!).  Everyone has parts of their body that they feel less than thrilled with, and my “birthing hips”, as someone once called them, were not my favorite.  But, while *only* 5-6 pounds of fat may not sound like much…I lost a ton of inches.  Inches around my arms, my waist, my hips, my thighs.  They are gone, in blubber heaven.  I’m down about 2 dress sizes.  For the first time in my life, I bought an extra-small in something (I kind of bought it just because I could wear an extra-small in something.)  I can see some sort of muscle definition in my arms, upper legs, and…..get ready for it….maybe even a glimmer of my abs.

And the best part is this:  When I try on clothes or get ready for work in the morning..I only hear silence.  Nothing.  Peacefulness. Calm.  Why?  Because that nagging, self-deprecating, overly critical voice that pointed out every flaw and imperfection has grown quiet.

Now, while she is still there in the background, folding her arms in the corner with a “let’s see if you can maintain this” attitude about her, she’s also kind of scared.  There’s no one there to replace her, there’s still no one coming in and saying, “Yeah, rock star!  You’re awesome and amazing and perfect!”, but she’s kind of been put in her place for a bit.  It’s nice for me-a vacation, really.  It’s like having the radio up really loud in your car while trying to navigate through really difficult traffic and then suddenly realizing that you can navigate…and think…much better when the volume is down or…off.

Baby steps.  Grunting.  Screaming.  Telling Tony to “shut up” (yes, I did).  A manic stream of expletives.  Laughing at my cat while he tried to love on me during my Sun Salutations and constantly begging to be petted while I was in downward dog.  Thanking God that I have a restaurant directly below me otherwise I might have a very unhappy neighbor due to the constant jumping/hopping/landing like a cat (yeah right) that I was doing.  Sweating and drinking unhealthy amounts of water.

But feeling pretty damn good after each and every work-out.

And you know what?  I start Round #2 tomorrow.

So, it seems fairly ironic that I would post a completely obnoxiously sweet/rich cupcake on the day that I celebrate this small victory.  (I actually made these cupcakes pre-P90X days and have been waiting to post them for this sole reason.)  Because we don’t need to get nuts here.  Everything in moderation.  I enjoy things like this in small doses (or sometimes larger doses if I have had a really bad day….)

I only made 12 cupcakes for this recipe because, as you probably already know, those little Ferrero Rocher  candies can be a bit pricey.  (If you want to skip them, just fill the cupcakes with Nutella instead.)  I started with a simple chocolate cupcake base, added the chocolate in the middle of the batter, and then made a simple Nutella buttercream for the top.  I had a few leftover chocolates, so I smashed them up and sprinkled them on top.  Do whatever you like.  And then go take good care of yourself.

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Ferrero Rocher Cupcakes with Nutella Buttercream

Servings: 12 cupcakes

 

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup sugar

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup sour cream

For the filling:

12 Ferrero Rocher candies, unwrapped

For the frosting:  (****I doubled this recipe..it is listed here as I doubled it.  I wanted a lot of frosting.  If you would like less, please divide this ingredient list in half.)

1 and 1/2 cups (24 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature

6 cups confectioners’ sugar

2/3 cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup Nutella

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Instructions

1. For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a cupcake pan with the liners of your choice.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cocoa, flour, baking powder, and salt.

3. In the bowl of your standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes or so.

4. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

5. Add the vanilla.

6. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture in two batches, alternating with sour cream and beginning and ending with flour.

7. Divide the batter evenly into your prepared cupcake pan.

8. Lightly press a Ferrero Rocher candy into the center of each cupcake.   (It’s ok if you don’t cover it completely with batter.  I used a spoon to try to help cover it and I think this worked well.)

9. Bake the cupcakes until a tester inserted into the center (around the Ferrero Rocher candy) comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes.

10. For the frosting:  In the bowl of your standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment,  beat the butter until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.

11. With the mixer speed on low, slowly and gradually add the confectioners’ sugar, mixing until combined.

12.  Add the remaining ingredients, adjusting to taste, and mix until smooth.

 

Source:  Cupcakes directly from Martha Stewart and frosting directly from Food.com.

April 13, 2013 - 3:32 pm

Hannah - You’re inspiring! This sounds like my relationship with p90x as well. It’s so much time, but it’s time well spent. I haven’t lost much weight, but I’ve lost inches as well. I hear Tony’s voice in my head as well (and I don’t know how I feel about that). I can’t follow the nutrition guide really (I try to eat vegan 98% of the time), but I take care of myself. I’ve been putting off today’s workout and reading this blog post just inspired me to get up and get it done. Thanks!

April 14, 2013 - 2:19 am

Ferrero Rocher Cupcakes with Nutella Buttercream - […] Ferrero Rocher Cupcakes with Nutella Buttercream via The Curvy Carrot […]

April 14, 2013 - 4:28 am

Rosie @ Blueberry Kitchen - These are the most gorgeous looking cupcakes, they sound so good too!

April 14, 2013 - 10:32 am

Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar - These look sooooo delicious!

April 14, 2013 - 7:10 pm

Colleen ~ - congrats on graduating! I love your writing style 🙂
also I totally agree with your comment about us having to take better care of ourselves, both inside and out. i’m happy you saw physical results but also glad you emphasized the value of our internal selves (in mind and body).
rock on!!!… and the cupcakes look amazing! 🙂

April 15, 2013 - 11:34 am

Rachel @ The Pescetarian and the Pig - First: The cupcakes. They look amazing. Sound amazing. Your photos are wonderful! What is on top of the frosting? Is it a crushed ferrero richer ball?

Second: P90x… maaaaaan. I got that program a little over 3 years ago and I was SO dedicated to waking up early every morning and doing it, eating clean, trying to be generally awesome. I completed the 90 days, but I was pretty far away from my goal. I felt really good, though! And i could definitely tell a huge difference in my strength from day 1 to day 90. Then I got a piglet and I fell off track and I tried so many times to get back on the p90x train and I’ve never been able to do it again! I definitely know the feeling of yelling at Tony… haha. I lost patience a lot, too, and I would would fast forward through the little mini breaks because I Just wanted the time to be over already. As far as 5lbs of fat goes, I know 5lbs doesn’t SOUND like a lot, but I go to a dietician that has this actual blob replica of what 5lbs of fat looks like. It’s huge and it looks pretty gross. 5lbs of pure fat is an amazing accomplishment, too! It’s so easy to lose 5lbs of water, but when the fat is gone you can really see a difference! Congratulations!

April 15, 2013 - 1:20 pm

srlacy - Hey Rachel! Yes, I just crumbled up some of the leftover chocolates and sprinkled them on top.
Yes, the five pounds of fat were a little disappointing-I certainly thought I had more to lose. But I guess the scale balances out if you are gaining muscle at the same time.
Thanks for the encouragement-it helps me stay motivated!!!

April 15, 2013 - 7:29 pm

Anne Marie - I LOVE reading about your P90x success! I have to give you credit for starting my husband and me on our journey. When you first posted about starting it, and that you had real, actual muscles, I was convinced. I had been thinking about buying it anyway, and you gave me the extra edge. I have always been very thin, but not “fit.” My husband is quite overweight, and I was thankful that he agreed to do it with me. I know what you mean about hating it. In the beginning I couldn’t even do one push up. Sometimes we would just lay on the floor and laugh (“Superman, Banana!”). But slowly, things got easier. We are getting ready to begin round #2 as well! My husband lost 30 pounds and he looks great! I haven’t lost a single pound, but I am positive I’ve gained muscle. My clothes fit so much better! We are so excited about our more sculpted bodies, and the strength we have gained. So, I thank you! And I’m trying to look away from those cupcakes!

“Ohh, that’s good, Mama!”

April 15, 2013 - 7:34 pm

srlacy - Oh my gosh- I am totally cracking up right now at your Tony quotes! I hate the Superman-Banana routine! Congrats to you and your husband-isn’t is such a great feeling? YAY!

April 16, 2013 - 1:17 am

Anne ~ Uni Homemaker - Wow, that looks amazing! I love the idea of Nutella butter cream frosting. Lovely post.

April 20, 2013 - 5:29 pm

Louann Zundel - The cupcakes look amazing! Just to clarify, for the frosting, is it 11/2 cups of butter or 12 tablespoons? Because 11/2 cups of butter is 24 tablespoons.

April 20, 2013 - 6:19 pm

srlacy - Hi Louann-
You are correct! The recipe is fixed…thanks for catching that!

April 23, 2013 - 10:28 am
July 14, 2013 - 6:47 pm

Christin Hardi - Hi I just made a batch filling exact directions…mine did a lot of ‘cracking’ on the tops. The batter was thick but smooth. I hope I did it correctly, they’re cooling right now.

August 6, 2013 - 12:03 pm

Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting | Jamie's Recipes - […] CUPCAKES WITH PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING  Serves 12, recipe from Just Putzing adapted from Curvy Carrot Ingredients 3/4 cup cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate) 3/4 cup flour 1/2 […]

October 29, 2013 - 12:56 pm

20 Cupcake Recipes for Chocoholics | mocochocodotcom - […] Get the recipe: thecurvycarrot […]

October 31, 2013 - 10:40 am

Ferrero Rocher Cupcakes | Just Putzing Around the Kitchen - […] Ferrero Rocher Cupcakes (Slightly adapted from the Curvy Carrot’s recipe) […]

November 9, 2013 - 6:52 am

Miah - Thank you so much for this recipe!! I made these today and they came out perfectly! I’m a pretty bad cook so it was amazing when everyone was telling me how good they tasted! Thanks again!!

November 9, 2013 - 7:53 am

Ferrero Rocher Cupcakes | Desserts are a few of my favourite things. - […] I attempted to cook Ferrero Rocher cupcakes with Nutella buttercream icing. Being he terrible cool I am, there were many mishaps and ‘accidents’ but in the end they turned out pretty good or my standards. I was very surprised when everyone was telling me how good they tasted, very light an delicious. http://www.thecurvycarrot.com/2013/04/13/ferrero-rocher-cupcakes-with-nutella-buttercream/ […]

January 28, 2014 - 4:29 pm

Sharon L Knight - This looks like a good recipe

February 17, 2014 - 8:20 am
June 24, 2014 - 4:53 pm

Matea - Ferrero Rocher cupcakes sound amazing; add in nutella buttercream and words cannot describe how good that sounds!

October 23, 2014 - 6:13 am

Cupcakes con Ferrero Rocher e frosting alla Nutella | VeroVero88 - […] preso la ricetta su the curvy carrot, a sua volta presa da Martha Stewart per la base cupcake e da Food.com per il […]