Chocolate-Cola Cupcakes

I made these cupcakes for Dave's ukulele group to celebrate their 12 year anniversary, and they turned out great. The 'secret' ingredient (well not exactly a secret since I put it in the title) is coke - I'm not sure that you can tell it's in them but they're really good so maybe that's the reason! I also filled them and made chocolate-cola buttercream frosting - yum. I don't like chocolate cake but the filling and frosting make these just about irresistible hahaha. 

Cake:

• duncan hines dark chocolate fudge cake mix
• 1 small box instant chocolate pudding
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup coke
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil 
• 1 t. vanilla
• big handful of mini chocolate chips

Mix ingredients together, bake according to package directions. Let Cool. 

Once completely cool scoop out a little cake from the top of each cupcake (if you made regular size cupcakes, if you made mini cupcakes then don't remove cake). An easy way to do this is to use the large part of a big metal cake tip, push it into the cupcake, twist and pull to remove a circle of cake. 

Filling:

• 2 boxes instant chocolate pudding (I used 1 box chocolate and 1 box white chocolate pudding)
• 2 cups cold milk

Whisk pudding and milk until dissolved. Let sit for a minute to thicken. Put into a frosting bag fitted with a large tip. Pipe some filling into each hole you made in the step above, then put the cake plug back in the hole.  If you made mini cupcakes you can stick the tip right directly into the top of the cupcake and gently squeeze. Then frost with buttercream frosting, add sprinkles if you're in the mood! 

Frosting: 

• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperaaure
• 1/4 cup cocoa
• a couple Tablespoons coke
• a couple Tablespoons milk, half and half, or cream
• pinch of coarse salt

Blend all ingredients together until creamy, fluffy, and smooth. Note: I didn't use all coke for the liquid thinking it might be too sweet - but you make it however you want!