It seems like kids everywhere are settled back into school and we are all getting back into the swing of the school routines. With so many schools always struggling for funding, back to school also means back to school fundraisers for many of us. If you have bake sale coming up and are looking for something easy yet a little different, I have the perfect treat for you to make. Chocolate Raspberry Brownie Cupcakes.
I absolutely adore brownie cupcakes. Everything you love about brownies, in cupcake form. Truth be told, I’ll take a brownie cupcake over a regular cupcake anytime that I have the chance. Something about that dense fudgey texture just always wins out for me.
These quick and easy cupcakes are made with your favorite brownie mix and canned frosting (or go with your favorite homemade recipes – whatever works for you) and get their raspberry flavor from the delicious addition of McCormick Raspberry Extract. It’s amazing how a few teaspoons of McCormick Raspberry Extract can totally change the flavor of your brownies. It’s incredibly easy to mix it up and give those brownies a whole new taste. I recently used McCormick Raspberry Extract to make homemade Blue Raspberry Slushees for my kids, which have been a huge hit, and it’s fun giving a raspberry spin to other recipes as well.
I used a dark chocolate fudge brownie mix to make my brownie cupcakes and it pairs so well with the raspberry.
I baked my cupcakes in my typical cupcake liners and gave them a fun extra finish by popping them into cute little paper party cups. If you are making cupcakes for a school bake sale, this is a nice way to easily add some whimsy to the packaging and a perfect way to work some school colors into the mix.
I think these would also be delicious with McCormick Pure Orange Extract. Such a great trick to have in your baking toolbox, simply add in a few teaspoons of extract to create fun new flavor combinations. I think that McCormick Pure Peppermint Extract will be an awesome addition to brownies, cupcakes and frostings during the holidays.
Here is the recipe for these Chocolate Raspberry Brownie Cupcakes. Remember, feel free to use your favorite brownie or frosting recipe, or go with a box mix. As I always say, whatever works for YOU!
Chocolate Raspberry Brownie Cupcakes
Ingredients
Brownie Cupcakes
- 1 package family-size 13x9 pan fudge brownie mix
- 4 teaspoons McCormick® Raspberry Extract
Frosting
- 2 teaspoons McCormick® Raspberry Extract
- 1 container 16 ounces chocolate frosting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to temperature listed on your brownie mix.
- Prepare brownie mix as directed on package. Stir in raspberry extract. Scoop into a cupcake pan filled with 12 cupcake liners.
- Bake approximately 20-30 minutes (this will vary based on your brownie brand or recipe) or until toothpick inserted near the edge comes out mostly clean - remember brownies will not be as solid as cupcakes when baking. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
- Meanwhile, for the Frosting, stir raspberry extract into chocolate frosting. Spread over cooled brownie cupcakes.
- Enjoy!
What desserts would you add McCormick Raspberry Extract to?
Disclosure: I am compensated by McCormick Spice for my post, but all opinions are, as always, mine and mine alone.
Holiday Baker Man says
Quite the Hybrid!
KariAnn McLeod says
Oh these sound great!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
Such a great idea to add the extract to the mix. Awesome!
Christi @ Love From The Oven says
Thanks Dorothy. Seriously SO simple, and totally changes it up. I love doing that with frostings when I’m in a rush, game changer!
[email protected] says
Oh I have to try this extract in my vanilla butter cake. I am a baker and I make custom cakes and I think this flavor will be a wonderful addition! I love your blog and this post. Thank you for sharing!
Christi @ Love From The Oven says
Dina, I think when you are starting with a vanilla butter cake, you simply can’t go wrong. That would be incredible!
Nick @ Bakingbeardy says
Love the idea! I do something similar with brownies with adding a bit of cream cheese and some strawberry extract. Voila – strawberry cheesecake brownie!
Christi @ Love From The Oven says
Nick, that sounds like an excellent idea!
Jamie @lifelovelemons says
Sound delicious! And I love how simple they are… sometimes a boxed mix is just what the doctor ordered!
Christi @ Love From The Oven says
Jamie, I grew up on the box brownies and to this day they are their own special dessert. I love homemade brownies, but honestly when I think brownies, the box is what I’m thinking of!
sally @ sallys baking addiction says
There is nothing quite like raspberries and chocolate together. 🙂 These cupcakes look deee-lish Christi! And hte polka dot cups – adorable.
Christi @ Love From The Oven says
Ah, thanks Sally! My daughter wants me to make things blue raspberry – which she’s not yet convinced is just adding blue to the, well, raspberry. 🙂 Either way, I’m good.
Angie | Big Bear's Wife says
Goodness, those are pretty!
Christi says
Thanks Angie!
sue griffore says
Love the combination of the cupcake wrappers and the cups. Nice presentation. Where are they from? thanks, sue