Texas Sheet Cake Cupcakes

Photo Credit: http://www.blueeyedbakers.com

Texas Sheet Cake Cupcakes

Original Recipe: http://www.blueeyedbakers.com/home/2012/5/30/texas-sheet-cake-cupcakes.html

Ingredients:
For the cake:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 heaping tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 sticks unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the frosting:

• 1 3/4 sticks butter, melted
• 4 heaping tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 6 tablespoons buttermilk (or milk)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups confectioners sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a muffin pan with paper liners and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar & salt and set aside.
3. In a microwave safe bowl, melt butter. Stir in cocoa powder & boiling water and mix. Add to dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
4. In a small bowl combine buttermilk, eggs, baking soda & vanilla and whisk. Stir into the chocolate/flour mixture and mix until fully incorporated. Fill prepared muffin pan with batter & bake cupcakes for 18-20 minutes. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
5. While the cupcakes are baking, make the icing.  Melt butter in a saucepan.  Pour into a large mixing bowl and add in cocoa powder, buttermilk (or milk) & vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth then add in confectioners sugar & finally pecans. Generously cover cooled cupcakes with frosting.