These Valentine’s Day cupcakes contain both melted white chocolate and white chocolate chips for a double punch of white chocolate.  The amaretto adds a sultry almond flavor – enough to enjoy, but not strong enough to leave you with a lingering taste of alcohol.  Make these cupcakes extra cute by topping them with a piece of white chocolate or leave them simple and unadulterated; either way, be sure to share them with someone you love.

White Chocolate Amaretto Cupcakes
Yield: 16 cupcakes

Cupcake ingredients:
1 ½ cups sugar
¼ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
7 ounces white chocolate chips, divided
2 large eggs, room temperature
2/3 cup whole milk
¼ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup + 2 tablespoons amaretto
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt

Amaretto whipped cream ingredients:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 tablespoon amaretto

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mix together sugar and butter until fully combined.
Melt three ounces of the white chocolate chips in a double boiler or the microwave.
Mix melted white chocolate into the sugar/butter mixture.
Mix in eggs, one at a time.
Mix in milk, vegetable oil, and amaretto until fully combined.
In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three additions, mixing until just combined.
Fold in remaining four ounces of white chocolate chips.
Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full.
Bake for twenty minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean.

Amaretto whipped cream directions:
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whip heavy whipped cream until thick enough to hold its shape.
Mix in sugar until just combined.
Mix in amaretto.
Pipe on cooled cupcakes.
Optionally top with a piece of white chocolate.

Stefani Pollack is the author of the popular cupcake blog, Cupcake Project. While she loves simple chocolate cupcakes, Stefani prefers creative cupcakes inspired by her favorite flavor combinations. She encourages her readers to branch out and experiment in the kitchen. Why cupcakes? They bring out the kid in us! Visit Stefani at www.cupcakeproject.com.