"Faux" Hostess Cupcakes

Ingredients:

Cupcakes:

2 c. sugar

1 3/4 c. flour

3/4 c. cocoa

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 eggs

1 c. milk

1/2 c. vegetable oil

2 tsp. vanilla

1 c. hot water

Filling:

white frosting

Ganache:

1/2 c. half and half

8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

2 Tbs. butter, softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt together. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla. Beat on medium speed. Stir in hot water. Pour batter into cupcake tins. Fill 2/3 full with batter. Bake 22-25 minutes. Cool completely. Makes 24 cupcakes. Spoon white frosting into a large ziplock bag. Cut the corner off. With the end of the spoon, poke holes into the center of each cupcake. Pipe frosting into cupcakes. Heat half and half in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate and butter, stirring until well incorporated. Dip each cupcake into the melted chocolate. When it cools, pipe zigzag lines to resemble a hostess cupcake. Very good!