We teamed up with Boston-based blogger and wine lover, Aly J Newton of Eats By Blaly to create an absolutely decadent sweets recipe going into Valentine’s Day using our Lot 75 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir… and let’s just say we are head over heels.

The following excerpts and recipes are from Eats By Blaly’s blog… enjoy!

Dark Chocolate Pinot Noir Cupcakes

You groan at valentine’s day, but I see an opportunity. We get one day a year (albeit, a hallmark holiday) to celebrate LOVE – however that love is defined for you. Whether you spend it with a significant other, a friend, family, yourself, even your pet, it should be a day of celebration. Most importantly, VDay is the ultimate excuse to indulge in four of my favorite things: red wine, flowers, chocolate, and candles. You could say its my perfect holiday.

I teamed up with 90+ Cellars this year, who I officially have asked to be my valentine, to create a dark chocolate pinot noir cupcake for you to ~fall in love with~ this year.

Dark Chocolate Cake Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup unsweetened/dark cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup finely chopped semisweet chocolate
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup coffee (room temperature)
• splash of 90+ Cellars Lot 75 Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir Buttercream Ingredients:

• 3 sticks unsalted butter, softened (do not microwave)
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup Pinot Noir syrup (90+ Cellars Lot 75 Pinot Noir + granulated sugar)
• 3 cups confectioner’s sugar

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt until combined.
2. Then in an additional small bowl, stir together buttermilk and coffee.
3. In the bowl of your mixer, mix the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, and add in the vanilla.
4. Add half the dry ingredients to butter mixture and half the buttermilk and coffee. Add the other half of the dry and the remaining buttermilk and coffee. Add the semisweet chocolate and mix until consistent.
5. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 of the way full. Bake at 375° for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Pinot Noir Butter Cream

Pinot syrup: in a small saucepan, combine 1 1/2 c pinot noir and 6 tbs granulated sugar. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves. Leave at a low simmer until thickens enough to leave a film on a spoon. Cool completely.

Mix the butter and shortening until creamy. Gradually add the confectioner’s sugar, and add the syrup once it starts to thicken, a little at a time. Beat until fluffy. If your buttercream is too thick, add some cream. If it is too wet, add more powdered sugar (a little at a time). Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.

To read Eats by Blaly full blog post click here.