Chocolate and Vanilla Zebra Cupcakes

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

Chocolate and Vanilla Zebra Cupcakes

Original Recipe: http://www.somethingswanky.com/2012/07/chocolate-and-vanilla-zebra-cupcakes.html

Ingredients:
For the Cake:

• 1 box devil’s food cake mix
• 1 small pkg instant chocolate pudding mix
• 1 cup sour cream*
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup chocolate milk (the good kind)*
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

For the Buttercream:

• 1/2 c. butter, room temperature or margarine
• 1/2 c. shortening
• 4 c. powdered sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2-3 tbsp. milk
• 1/4 c. cocoa powder

Optional:

• Melting chocolates, both chocolate and white chocolate

Instructions:
For the Cake:

• Mix all ingredients until smooth batter forms, reserving the chocolate chips.
• Mix in the chocolate chips with spatula.
• Divide evenly among 24 cupcake liners. Bake at 350º for 20-25 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
• Let cool before frosting.

For the Buttercream:

• Whisk together the shortening and butter or margarine until smooth.
• Alternately add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and the liquids-- whisking in between additions until smooth.
• Remove half of the buttercream to a bowl. Cover and set aside.
• Add 1/4 c. cocoa powder to the remaining buttercream. Whisk and add additional milk if needed to thin out a little.

Assembly:

• Use this saran wrap method to fill your frosting bag-- with one scoop of the vanilla frosting beside one scoop of the chocolate frosting.
• Pipe buttercream onto the cupcake.
• Melt the chocolates and drizzle over top of cupcakes if desired.