The best Chocolate Cake. Strawberries. Meringue

In 23 years of living i've realized, finally, that if you are good enough, smart enough, powerful enough, or funny enough, your 'talent' will be spoken for or speak for itself. For instance, when i was home, i found myself reading my little brothers 7th grade yearbook. It seemed to me that according to a lot of girls and boys, my brother was nice, funny, and smart. Not once have i ever heard him say these things yet i completely agree. 

My feeling is that this is also true for this Chocolate Cupcake with Chocolate Meringue Icing. Just - look. at. it. This is a chocolate cake recipe to remember. 

Chocolate.Cake. Strawberries. 

2 sticks butter

2 cups water

pinch of salt

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/4 cup crème fraiche or sour cream

1 3/4 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsps baking soda

2 eggs (3 eggs for taller, cakier cupcakes)

1) Place butter, water and salt in a microwave-safe dish and heat on high for 1 minute or melt in a

saucepot. Remove and stir until all the butter is melted in the water. Whisk in the cocoa powder

and set aside.

2) In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar and baking soda.

3) Using a wooden spoon, add the butter mixture to the flour and stir until just incorporated.

4) Whisk in the eggs and stir until well incorporated. Add the crème fraiche and mix until no

streaks remain.

5) Pour into parchment-paper lined pans. This recipe makes about 2 dozen cupcakes.

6) Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Cocoa. Meringue. Icing.

3 egg whites

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

1 pack small strawberries

1) Place egg whites in a double broiler over low heat. Warm egg whites through and add sugar, whisk until melted through. 

2) Remove the egg whites from the heat and add to stand mixer when cool. 

3) Whisk until soft peaks form and add the cocoa powder

4) Once you have stiff peaks remove and add to a piping bag. 

5) Pipe onto cupcakes and top with strawberry.