Dining with Disney: Lilo & Stitch: Chocolate Cupcakes with Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting.

Lilo & Stitch is such a wonderful story of family and friendships. Beings from 2 completely different worlds, literally, find common ground and form a long lasting friendship. It's celebrates differences and confidence in oneself. It also shows the importance of family, the bond that's shared with siblings and that no matter what,  you love and take care of one another. Ohana means family, nobody gets left behind!


Dining with Disney Menu is as follows:

Appetizer- Deep Fried Spam Musubi

Entree- Chicken Katsu Dinner Plate

Dessert - Chocolate Cupcakes with Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting.

Now let me example my thought process. Now some of it is quite obvious. The film is based in Hawaii so Spam Musubi & Chicken Katsu make sense. You can make your own Musubi (regular or fried) & Katsu or use my recipes. I serve the Katsu with steamed rice & macaroni salad. Please feel free to go to your local Hawaiian joint and get these goodies.You may not be able to find deep fried musubi but you'll find regular spam musubi which is just as yummy!

Now let's look at the dessert. Chocolate Cupcakes with Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting. You're probably thinking what does chocolate cupcakes have to do with Hawaii or the movie. Well, in the movie, Lilo orders a slice of chocolate cake which Stitch proceeds to devour then spits out because he realized that he just eaten her cake. At the end of the movie to make up for his mistake Stitch bakes Lilo a Chocolate cake. So in honor of those moments I'm sharing this cupcake recipe. Oh, the pineapple is there because it's Hawaii the land of pineapples! I hope you enjoy your time Dining with Disney with your Ohana!

Aloha!

Preheat oven 350 F. Place 3 oz of bittersweet chocolate

1 stick of butter cut up

1/2 cup cocoa powder ( I prefer dark cocoa) in a microwave safe bowl

Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each time until chocolate, butter & cocoa are completely combined. Allow to cool.

To a small bowl combine 3/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp baking powder

In a medium bowl add 2 eggs, 3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

Combine well.

Add cooled chocolate mixture into the wet mixture.

Add flour little by little until all is combined.

Add 1/2 cup sour cream and combine. The batter will be thick.

Line Trays

Using a small scoop or melon baller (That's what I used) pour batter into liners. Bake 18-20 for regular cupcakes or 15-18 minutes for mini cupcakes. Test doneness with a toothpick.

8 oz of cream cheese & 1 stick of butter at room temperature.

Cream together and add 1 tsp of vanilla

Add powdered sugar 1/4 cup at a time to your desired sweetness.

Add 1/4 cup crushed pineapple and combine.

Remove from oven and let them cool for a 5 minutes in the pan.Then remove from pan and cool on a wired rack.

When cool frost the cupcakes.

Top them with a chunk of pineapple

Don't they look pretty!

If you want to take one more step add a piece of Millionaire bacon. The sweet & salty totally work!

Live adventurously, add the Millionaire bacon!

Chocolate Cupcakes with Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting - yields 12-14 reg cupcakes or 35-40 mini cupcakes


Ingredients:

3/4 cup Flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 stick of butter
3 oz bittersweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup cocoa powder (dark)
1/2 cup sour cream


Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting:

Basic Cream Cheese Frosting
1/4 cup crushed pineapple
2-3 slices of pineapple rings, cut into small chunks 
1-2 slice of Millionaire Bacon, cut into pieces (optional)

Note: If using Millionaire Bacon, make that first. It will keep while you make the cupcakes.

Roadmap:

1. Preheat oven 350F.

2. Add chocolate, cocoa powder & butter in to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second increments until chocolate melts. Stirring after each 30 seconds until incorporated and completely smooth. Be careful not to over cook chocolate. Allow chocolate mixture to cool.

3. In a small bowl mix together flour, baking soda and baking powder. In a medium bowl mix together eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt. Incorporate cooled chocolate mixture into wet mixture.

4. Add flour mixture little by little into the wet mixture. Add sour cream and stir until well combined.

5. Place liners in pan. Divide batter into cupcake liners. Bake for 18-20 minutes for regular cupcakes. (for mini cupcakes 15-18 minutes) Insert toothpick, if clean allow cupcakes to cool in pan for 5-7 minutes. Take cupcakes out of pans and completely cool.

6. While cupcakes are cooking make frosting. Basic Cream Cheese Frosting- Add 8oz cream cheese (room temperature) and 1 stick of butter (room temperature) into a medium bowl. With a hand mixer, cream together until blended. Add vanilla and blend. Add and blend powdered sugar 1/4 cup at a time until desired sweetness. Add 1/4 cup of crushed pineapple and mix in with a spatula. 

7. Frost cupcakes and topped with pineapple chunk (mini cupcakes) or chunks (regular cupcake). If you want to go extra crazy add a piece of millionaire bacon with pineapple chunks. It sounds crazy but it works!! Try it!  Enjoy!