Cauldron Cakes (Chocolate Cupcakes filled with Chocolate Mousse)

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Cauldron Cakes

Our visit to Wizarding World happened to fall on Eric’s birthday. Since I wasn’t able to make him a cake to celebrate, we decided we’d get something sweet inside the park. Our first stop was Honeyduke’s Sweetshop, where we picked up a cauldron cake to share. It was an incredibly delicious chocolate cupcake filled with chocolate mousse, and it even had a cute little chocolate handle. That, along with frozen butterbeer, was our breakfast. Hey, when in Rome Hogsmeade.

Honeyduke's Sweetshop

Cauldron cakes were number two on my list of things from Wizarding World to recreate. Although I’ve seen many versions, many with candy and licorice, I wanted to stick with what I had at Wizarding World. After all, I’m not one to mess with something that tasty. I’m so happy that, flavor wise, these were spot on. The cupcakes are intensely chocolate, with both Dutch-process cocoa and bittersweet chocolate. Once you fill them with the light and fluffy mousse, you’ve got a seriously chocolatly dessert that anyone is sure to love.

Cauldrons

Cauldron Cakes

  • COOK TIME:
  • YIELD: 12 cupcakes
Ingredients
  • For the cupcakes:

  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces

  • 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

  • ½ cup Dutch-process cocoa

  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour

  • ½ teaspoon baking soda

  • ¾ teaspoon baking powder

  • 2 large eggs

  • ¾ cup granulated sugar

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • ½ cup sour cream

  • For the mousse:

  • 2 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa powder

  • 5 tablespoons hot water

  • 7 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

  • 1½ cups heavy cream

  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

  • ⅛ teaspoon salt

Directions
  • 1

    Start by making the cupcakes. Place oven rack in lower-middle position and heat oven to 350º. Butter and flour a 12 cup muffin pan.

    In a medium bowl, combine butter, chocolate and cocoa. Set over a small saucepan with simmering water and heat until melted. Remove from heat and whisk until smooth and thoroughly combined. Set aside to cool until just warm to the touch.

  • 2

    In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and baking powder. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk eggs. Add sugar, vanilla and salt and mix on medium-low speed until combined. Add cooled chocolate mixture and continue mixing until chocolate is incorporated. Sift in one-third of the flour mixture and continue mixing, scraping down the sides of bowl as needed. Mix in sour cream, then sift in remaining flour mixture. Continue mixing and scraping the bowl until everything is combined. The batter will be thick.

    Divide batter evenly into muffin pan cups and bake for about 18-20 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.

  • 3

    While the cupcakes are cooling, make the mousse. In a small bowl, combine cocoa powder and water; set aside. Place chocolate in a medium bowl. Set over a small saucepan with simmering water, stirring until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly, about 5 minutes.

  • 4

    Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip cream, sugar and salt at medium speed until slightly thickened, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to high and continue whipping until soft peaks form. Whisk the cocoa mixture into the chocolate until smooth. Fold one-third of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Using a rubber spatula, fold in remaining cream until combined and no white streaks remain.

  • 5

    To make the cauldron cakes, place a sheet of wax paper on a small cutting board or flat plate. Set aside.

    Remove centers of cupcakes using the cone method. Melt about 6 ounces of chocolate in a shallow bowl. Dip the tops of the cupcakes and set aside. Place remaining chocolate in a piping bag. Pipe cauldron handles onto wax paper and place in freezer for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, pipe or spoon mousse into cupcakes. Once the chocolate handles are cooled completely, remove from wax paper and place on top of each cupcake.

SOURCE: Adapted from Cook's Illustrated, November 2009
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COMMENTS: ( 13 )

13 responses to “Cauldron Cakes (Chocolate Cupcakes filled with Chocolate Mousse)”

  1. Lindsay says:

    I’m so glad I’m not the only food blogging Harry Potter nerd out there!! I have just loved these past two posts, I can’t wait to make them!

  2. these are so cute and look delicious

  3. YUM! So pretty and tasty looking. I’m really jealous of your trip to the Wizarding World of HP.

    • Courtney says:

      Thanks! I was so sad that we moved away from Orlando shortly before the park opened, but I’m so happy we got to visit one time before our season passes expired. It’s definitely worth a trip.

  4. Holly says:

    Looks fantastic and very much like the original from WWoHP!

  5. Carolyn Jung says:

    These are adorable! Almost too cute to eat. ALMOST! 😉

  6. Valerina says:

    How deliciously creative! 🙂

  7. Jen H says:

    I’m so jealous! I am such a HUGE fan of the books and the movies. I don’t know that I’ll get to see the Wizarding world in Orlando any time soon but I just love the few pics you posted here, thank you! The recipes look fun, I will have to make them soon. I have always wanted a butterbeer LOL

  8. Alicia says:

    Awww, these are so cute!

  9. Arielle says:

    How did you get the handles to stay up? When me and my roomie made Cauldron Cakes, they would start to melt the minute we took them out of the freezer.

    • Courtney says:

      I refrigerated the cupcakes before putting the handles on. I had the same problem you mentioned the first time I tried, but refrigerating the cupcakes before adding the handles definitely helped.