We're not sure how or even when exactly it happened, but somewhere along the way, cupcakes became the hottest trend in cafes and bakeries around the country. What we are sure of, though, is that we've always loved the cupcake and therefore we don't really care who brought them back. Though it's easy to find chic upscale cupcakes these days, there's nothing better than a dark, moist chocolate cupcake covered in chocolate buttercream.

Recipe for Chocolate Cupcakes after the jump. Photo by Wikimedia Commons. For more of Lisa's writing & recipes, visit her blog Transplanted Taste Buds.

Ingredients:

1 stick Butter, room temperature
1 1/4 C. Sugar
2 Eggs, room temperature
3/4 C. Flour
1 t. Baking Powder
1/4 t. Salt
1/2 C. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder * You always hear people say this, but truly, using the best cocoa powder you can afford makes a world of difference...1/2 C. Whole Milk
1 t. Vanilla

Yield: 12-14 cupcakes.

Method: Preheat oven to 375 degrees, then turn it down to 350 just prior to baking

1. Beat the butter with an electric mixer until it is soft, then add sugar. Beat about 3 minutes.
2. Add the eggs, one at a time beating until they are well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients and whisk them to incorporate them.
4. Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients to the butter and sugar and beat it just to combine. Add 1/2 of the liquids (milk & vanilla), scrape down bowl and beat to combine. Continue adding the dry and wet ingredients alternately making sure you END WITH THE DRY.
5. Fill muffin tins 2/3's of the way and bake for about 20-22 minutes. Allow to cool, then frost.

Use your favorite buttercream to top this cupcake-if you need a recipe, I've got one posted on my blog.